A NEW Scottish forensics centre is set to offer the public an opportunity to trace their genetic links in a move that could boost tourism.

The centre, based at Glasgow Caledonian University, will be unique by teaming traditional family history search services with modern DNA genetic profiling technology, to help people from around the world trace their Scottish roots.

Dr John Gow, director of the Centre for Forensic Investigation, said that the DNA profiling service would encourage tourists to visit Scotland.

"Genealogy is one of the largest hits on the internet search engine Google and there is a lot of interest from all the family history programmes on TV, so there is a big ancestral tourism market out there.

"If Mr Campbell from New York contacts one of the traditional Scottish genealogy companies and discovers that he may have a relation called Mr Campbell in Maryhill, then we can do a DNA test for them and be able to show for definite if they share a common ancestry and are related."

The centre, which will open its doors next Thursday, is also compiling a DNA database of various Scottish and Irish clan groups and Gow revealed that there has already been interest in the DNA technology from clan associations across the globe.

He said: "What we are also trying to do is to develop markers for individual Scottish clans so, for example, we will be able to tell people if they come from the clan McGregor or MacDonald."

DNA will be obtained by the same process currently used during forensic investigations. Following a simple mouth swab, the DNA is then sent for analysis. The Y-chromosone DNA will shed light on the male lineage, while mitochondrial DNA can be used to uncover the maternal lineage. The results should allow researchers to go back several hundred years.

Gow hopes that eventually self-testing kits would be as common a sight for tourists as a guidebook or map - and not just in Scotland. "It is our intention to have DNA swabbing kits in all the tourist information offices and hotel lobbies across the UK, so people can go and pick up a kit for a few pounds then post it off to us and we will do the DNA tests for them.

"We are also hoping that during Tartan Week in New York and at international highland gatherings, the genealogy companies will take along our test kits and distribute them."

The opening of the centre is the latest business to latch on to ancestral tourism, which VisitScotland describes as "a huge potential market". With over 50 million people around the world claiming Scottish ancestry, the agency estimates that ancestral visitors currently contribute around £150 million per annum to the economy and anticipates that future visitor numbers could increase from 200,000 to as high as 800,000 trips annually.

A VisitScotland spokesman said of the new centre. "This new service offers an interesting opportunity for people who want to come to Scotland to walk in the footsteps of their ancestors."

The opening was also welcomed by Scottish Enterprise. Katrina Morrison, its tourism product development manager, said: "The use of technology has already helped Scotland to stay ahead of the game in ancestral tourism, making it easier for visitors to establish connections with our people.

"This facility will be yet another tool to help Scotland make connections with its diaspora and in so doing, encourage more people to visit."

However, others have advised caution before embarking on the DNA ancestral trail. Dr Helen Wallace, director of GeneWatch UK, said: "DNA genealogy is often harmless fun, but people should be aware that the results are not always reliable. You should also read the small print carefully if you plan to donate your DNA, to make sure it isn't going to be used for research you disagree with".

"If your DNA is stored on a database with your name and address it can be used to trace you or your relatives and can sometimes reveal private information about your health," she added.