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Pros And Cons Of Dna

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How far will the DNA revolution go? The list of basic chemicals that make up a human being is not just something that a scientist can decode in a matter of seconds. Although DNA technology is advancing rapidly, it takes years or even decades to prove a new theory about DNA. The science of DNA and its advantages has revolutionized modern criminal law and medical research in every characteristic. Compared over the past 10 years DNA technology is now widely used by police, prosecutors, defense counsel, and courts in the United States and other countries around the world. In order for us to understand DNA we must define the term DNA, the history, the uses of DNA, the advantages of DNA technology, and the role it plays in shaping living organisms. …show more content…

DNA testing however, can be expensive and requires time, three criteria must be met in order for a lab to accept DNA samples. The three criteria that DNA should obtain are sufficient materials, samples from both the suspect and the victim, and the evidence must be probative.
In October 1998, given authority under the DNA Identification Act of 1994, the FBI activated a database called the National DNA Index System or NDIS. This DNA database was created to law enforcement purposes. In 1990 they then created a pilot project called the Combined DNA Index System known as the CODIS which was a combination of both forensic and computer technology used to help solve crimes. Therefore, DNA analysis is not only a way of securing convictions; it is also a way of excluding suspects who might otherwise be falsely charged with and convicted of serious crimes.5
Furthermore, the forensic use of DNA technology in criminal cases began in 1986 when police asked Dr. Alec J. Jeffreys (who coined the term "DNA fingerprints" 6) of Leicester University (England) to verify a suspect's confession that he was responsible for two rape-murders in the English Midlands.7 Tests proved that the suspect had not committed the crimes. Police then began obtaining blood samples from several thousand male inhabitants in the area to identify a new suspect.8 In a 1987 case in England, Robert Melias became the first person convicted of a crime (rape) on the basis of DNA

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The Department of Justice says, "States began passing laws requiring offenders convicted of certain offenses to provide DNA samples. " That DNA evidence can help convict someone of a crime and it helps to uncover more things about the crime itself. Investigators have been using forensic science to help them solve cases since before the 90 's, mostly fingerprints that were found at the crime scenes and on the victims (O 'Brien). DNA evidence has solved countless cases including ones that happened over a prolonged period of time because of the technological advancements there is

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It can refute a claim of self-defense and put a weapon in the suspect's hand. It can change a story from an alibi to one of consent. The more officers know how to use DNA, the more powerful a tool it becomes.” This proves that DNA evidence is very reliable and is hard evidence that cannot be argued upon. DNA is either found at the scene of the crime or isn’t.

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657 Words | 3 Pages

Without the help of DNA, connecting offenders to their victims and the scene of the crime, so many cases would be left unsolved. Shockingly enough, it wasn’t until 1984 where DNA was used for biological identification. Once DNA started to play such a big role in criminal justice, many cases where they didn’t have enough evidence to prosecute, were brought to court and finally solved. Even though there was such a large gap in when the offenses were first committed and when they were solved, there was still justice for the victims and their families. An important case where DNA changes everything would be that of Gary Ridgway, otherwise known as the green river killer.

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Today, the FBI has DNA records of more than 5 million convicted offenders in the database CODIS, or Combined DNA Index System. However, DNA fingerprinting has limitations: it is limited to directly connecting crimes to felons already in CODIS, has high risk of contamination, does not look at familial records, and only analyzes short pieces of DNA. With the advent of more affordable and high resolution genetic technologies after The Human Genome Project, over 35 million people have submitted their DNA to the largest direct-to-consumer genetic companies. Two companies, FamilyTreeDNA and GEDmatch, also allow law enforcement access to their databases. Thus, beginning investigative genetic genealogy, a new method of forensic investigation not only with higher resolution DNA information than DNA fingerprinting but also the capability of finding a suspect from distant relatives.

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1990 Words | 8 Pages

We know that DNA testing is giving hope to the hopeless in prison. Margret Berger (2006) comments, “Even though the number of inmates released as a consequence of DNA testing is minuscule in contrast to the two million persons incarcerated in the United States, the DNA exonerations have had an enormous impact on the fundamental assumptions about the American criminal justice system and how it operates.” Changes like the desirability of the death penalty, the growing concerns on how forensic laboratories operate alongside the increasing interest in forensic science overall. For instance, as the number of exonerations continues to rise, the number of people being placed on death row is decreasing thanks to Supreme Court rulings that juveniles under the age of 18 and the mentally ill cannot be sentenced to death. The death penalty is overall losing its appeal to society, not just because of the DNA testing, but people become aware of the wrongful convictions of other crimes as well.

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The impact of Tim’s case was also felt on a national and even international level, as it shed light on the importance of using accurate and scientific evidence in the legal system and the need to reform the criminal justice system to prevent wrongful convictions. Tim’s story has inspired many other cases to be re-opened and re-examined, leading to the exoneration of several other innocent individuals. Overall, the case of Tim Cole has had a profound impact on the criminal justice system and has helped to bring about important changes in the use of DNA

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In the lab report three students are tested along with one suspect. Student number two’s DNA matched the suspects DNA. The student’s DNA’s are cut with five different enzymes as well as the suspects DNA. Student two’s DNA matched exactly with the suspects DNA; the other two student’s DNA did not resemble the suspects DNA at all. (Choi, et al, 2008) DNA fingerprinting is used a lot in determining who committed a crime.

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In King, Justice Kennedy referred to the invention of DNA technology as “one of the most significant scientific advancements of our era.” This statement has been criticized, but the impact of DNA technology has been significant. Currently, forensic analysts can use “junk” DNA to identify a person with near certainty. Law enforcement can collect a person’s DNA through saliva. The sample is then uploaded to CODIS, a national network of DNA databases.

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Due to DNA testing now available many cases of wrongful conviction have led them to be exonerated, by a confession from the actual perpetrator or other convincing evidence of innocence that wasn’t available at trail. For a DNA profile to be made they must first find evidence in form of blood, saliva, skin tissue, hair and semen that was recovered from a crime

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Wrongful conviction has been an emerging and tremendous dilemma in our society since the discovery of DNA analysis. This is a very recent study that has presented another form of evidence that can prove an individual's innocence in ways never before. Forensic scientist collect DNA evidence and run tests to see if there is a match to DNA samples collected at the crime scenes. However, the justice system has not taken this new science into consideration because many influential individuals, such as judges, prosecutor, jurors, and attorneys, do not understand this new science. This leaves the burden to forensic scientist to explain DNA testing to representatives of the court system.

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957 Words | 4 Pages

All state justice systems should allow post-conviction DNA testing and the collection of DNA from suspects. This will help the wrongly convicted to prove their innocence and avoid the death penalty, and also have the chance at exoneration. Law enforcement should collect DNA from suspects to prove if suspects truly are innocent or guilty. As well as require state officials to properly catalogue and preserve biological evidence for as long as the suspect is incarcerated. DNA testing is an important way for those who have been wrongly convicted to prove their innocence.

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D Assessment DNA technology Forensic testing 24.11.2014 Marius Martinsen 10D Introduction: I have chosen to investigate Forensic testing, it is also known as DNA profiling or genetic fingerprinting. During this essay I will discuss what the disadvantages and what the advantages of forensic testing are. I will also talk about how forensic testing is carried out. Forensic testing is used to identify an individual by using the DNA sequences of that person.

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With the leaps in the technology that has happened over the course of 30 years is incredible. From smart phones, to fit bits the world has become more advanced, and through these advancements have helped further investigations in the criminal system. From being able to take DNA or fingerprints and search a database for a match, to furthering our knowledge on blood splatter analysis helps the Criminal Justice System to prove if someone is truly guilty of a crime, In the year 1987 the criminal justice system started to use DNA testing as evidence in the courtroom. With this new evidence many cases have been overturned and innocent people on death row have been set free.

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571 Words | 3 Pages

Cases have been solved faster by using DNA testing than back then where the investigators relied on people’s words and or the cases being dealt in court. Sadly there are more cases where people are manipulate their words and or can make a false statement that can get another person in trouble even though they did not commit. Especially on gruesome cases like murderers, rapist and so on that leads to where the punishment on those type of crimes is the death

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720 Words | 3 Pages

It is based on extremely sensitive PCR techniques. Using DNA evidence suspects can be linked to crime scenes from as little as the skin cells on a steering wheel or saliva on a cigarette butt. DNA based forensic methods are much more efficient than the conventional methods because of so many obvious reasons. Cases could be solved even investigations begun after decades by analyzing DNA from degraded samples. Moreover, it is possible to deduce phylogenetic/evolutionary relations through DNA based forensic methods.

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