Use Of DNA Testing In Forensic Science
DNA testing used in the area of law enforcement and forensic science has increased immensely in the past few years. It has been used to solve a vast number of cases, some of them being very high profile. DNA has been adopted as a very precise method to collect evidence to convict or acquit suspects in criminal cases. It is irrefutable to deny that this technology has become very advanced and is now considered an efficient tool for law enforcement world wide.DNA testing used in forensics works on the belief that while humans are very similar, it is the small differences that make it possible to distinguish one person from another. The human body contains about 3 billion DNA bases. This means that nearly 3 million bases will be different.
The method used to analyze DNA found at the scene of a crime can be intricate and the methods are complex. Some methods are more effective than others, specifically PCR and STR methods. This method has the ability to analyze even small pieces of DNA, which is very crucial at the scene of a crime.
DNA testing is not 100%; however the margin of error is extremely small. The actual probability of implicating the wrong person using DNA is billions to one. However, this technology is not foolproof in convicting the guilty party: if the samples are of poor quality or are very degraded by improper handling, the results may not be accurate. Due to these issues, there has been an effort to utilize DNA testing retroactively on people that have been convicted to determine if they were wrongly accused.
This is not a foolproof method of convicting guilty parties, it is however a nearly foolproof way of determining who is innocent. There has been much controversy surrounding the use of DNA testing, especially due to privacy issues involving DNA profiling. Currently U.S. laws are fairly strict on the collection and storage of DNA, giving little reason to worry about violations. This is an important tool against fighting crime and has helped in countless court cases.
The use of DNA testing used in forensic science as part of law enforcement has become very popular in recent years. It has assisted in solving a large number of court cases. Methods used to collect DNA from the scene of a crime are very intricate and complex. Results from these tests are not always 100% accurate; however the margin of error is still extremely minute. The outcome can be affected by the quality of the sample and if it was properly handled to prevent degradation. DNA has been used recently to test retroactively people convicted of crimes to determine if they are wrongly incarcerated.
