Ask HN: Can you identify a cancer cell's host from its DNA?
Cancer cells are different. They are created when the DNA in them is altered through mutation and/or outside influence. As I understand it, the DNA in a cancer cell is different from all the other cells in your body.
Does anyone know if it is different enough that it cannot be used to successfully identify which host a sample came from? If the only evidence left behind by a criminal was some cancer cells, could a DNA lab say it came from them?