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How Can DNA Be Used To Solve Crimes

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The past decade has seen great advances in a powerful criminal justice tool: deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA. DNA can be used to clear suspects and discharge persons mistakenly accused or convicted of crimes (“Using DNA to Solve Crimes”). When used to its full potential, DNA evidence will help solve and prevent some of the United States of America 's most serious violent crimes. DNA is generally used to solve crimes in one of two ways. In cases where a suspect is identified, a sample of that person’s DNA can be compared to evidence from the crime scene. Also, in cases where a suspect has not yet been identified, biological evidence from the crime scene can be analyzed and compared to offender profiles in DNA databases to help identify the perpetrator. DNA can be used to identify criminals with incredible accuracy when biological evidence exists. In all, DNA technology is increasingly vital to ensuring accuracy and fairness in the criminal justice system. DNA profiling was originally developed as a method of determining paternity. Samples taken under clinical conditions were examined for genetic evidence that could link parent to child. DNA first made its way into the courts in 1986, when police in England asked molecular biologist Alec Jeffreys, who had begun investigating the use of DNA for forensics, to use DNA to verify the …show more content…

Forensic scientists can compare the profile of a blood sample with that of a suspect or the victim, to look for a match. If two DNA profiles match, there is only a one-in-a-billion chance that they are from two different people. Each person’s DNA is totally unique, more so than fingerprints. DNA can come from an assortment of body fluids, skin, and hair. There is no mistake with a match. DNA can also be matched from parents or siblings if identification is needed. This would be used if hoping to find family

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