DNA Profiling Its Uses in Court
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Reference Education -> subcategory Legal.
DNA Profiling: Its Role in Modern Courtrooms
Overview
In the pursuit of stronger evidence in courtrooms, DNA profiling has become a game-changer since the late 1980s. This scientific advancement has provided attorneys, defendants, and plaintiffs with a tool that can tilt the scales of justice more accurately.
Understanding DNA
Beyond our unique fingerprints, DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) serves as a personal identifier embedded within us. Acting as a genetic blueprint, DNA shapes our biological traits and is present in nearly every human cell. We inherit half of our DNA from each parent. While 99.9% of human DNA is identical, the remaining 0.1%?"or approximately 3 million base pairs?"makes us unique. These distinctions form what we call our DNA fingerprint.
The Reliability of DNA Profiling
Over the past two decades, DNA profiling, also known as DNA fingerprinting, has proven its accuracy in solving crimes, including cold cases over 30 years old.
The DNA Profiling Process
1. Specimen Collection: DNA is extracted from crime scene evidence such as hair, blood, or bodily fluids. If a victim has scratched an attacker, skin cells from beneath the victim’s fingernails might identify the perpetrator.
2. Isolation and Cutting: DNA is isolated and cut using special enzymes that recognize patterns, facilitating comparison with other samples.
3. Electrophoresis: The DNA strands are placed in a gel, and an electric current is passed through, separating them.
4. Fragment Comparison: The resulting fragments are compared against suspect samples to find a match.
Applications of DNA Profiling
DNA profiling is predominantly used in cases of sexual offenses (60%), homicides (20%), assaults (7%), robberies (7%), criminal damage (1%), and other incidents (5%).
By narrowing down suspects, DNA profiling helps law enforcement focus their investigation efforts. For example, the FBI has reported that DNA evidence allows them to eliminate one-third of rape suspects due to mismatched DNA samples. However, authorities remain cautious of potential evidence planting at crime scenes and continue to rely on motives, weapons, testimonies, and other clues to ensure comprehensive case evaluations.
DNA profiling has undeniably transformed the judicial landscape, offering a robust, scientific method to bolster traditional investigative techniques.
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