BARCELONA -- In the cellular world's version of CSI, scientists have discovered that our cells leave behind telltale "fingerprints" that could blow the cover on cancer's stealthy operation. The breakthrough comes not from DNA, as you might expect, but from the humble ribosome - the cell's protein-making powerhouse that we've overlooked for decades. These molecular signatures, unique to different tissues and altered in cancer, could potentially identify tumors using just a tiny sample of tissue and a portable device no bigger than the palm of your hand.

The discovery, reported by researchers at the Centre for Genomic Regulation in Barcelona, centers around ribosomes -- the microscopic machines that manufacture all the proteins our bodies need to function. While scientists have long viewed ribosomes as identical workers in our cellular factories, this new research reveals they carry distinct chemical markers that vary between different types of tissues and change when cells become cancerous.

"Our ribosomes are not all the same," explains Eva Maria Novoa, the study's lead author, in a statement. "They are specialized in different tissues and carry unique signatures that reflect what's happening inside our bodies."

Researchers add that it's akin to each tissue type, leaving its own molecular return address on its cellular machinery.