The Importance of Dna Evidence - 1575 Words

The Importance of DNA Evidence What is DNA? Is it these winding strands that look like ladders or is it what gives a person blonde hair and blue eyes? Actually, DNA is both of these things. DNA is a person’s genetic makeup–their hereditary blueprint passed on by their parents. It is a part of almost every cell in the human body. In each cell, a person’s DNA is the same; it stays the same throughout their lifetime. DNA is found in skin tissue, sweat, bone, the root and shaft of hair, earwax, mucus, urine, semen, and vaginal or rectal cells. The DNA found in a person’s saliva is the same as the DNA found in their blood. Parts of the DNA determine our physical characteristics, such as eye and hair color, height, and bone structure, but the†¦show more content†¦Every State in the Nation has a DNA database that allows for the collection of DNA profiles from offenders convicted of particular crimes. CODIS software enables State, local, and national law enforcement crime laboratories to compare DNA profiles electronically, thereby linking serial crimes to each other and identifying suspects by matching DNA profiles from crime scenes with profiles from convicted offenders. The success of CODIS is demonstrated by the thousands of matches that have linked serial cases to each other and cases that have been solved by matching crime scene evidence to known convicted offenders. Recent advancements in DNA technology have improved law enforcement’s ability to use DNA to solve old cases. Original forensic applications of DNA analysis were developed using a technology called restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). Although very old cases (more than 10 years) may not have had RFLP analysis done, this kind of DNA testing may have been attempted on more recent unsolved cases. However, because RFLP analysis required a relatively large quantity of DNA, testing may not have been successful. Similarly, biological evidence deemed insufficient in size for testing may not have been previously submitted for testing. Also, if a biological sample was degraded by environmental factors such as dirt or mold, RFLP analysis may have been unsuccessful at yielding a result (Turman). Although DNA technology can be used in criminal casesShow MoreRelatedYu Sun Park. Dr. Murphy. Lab Section 4. Discovery Of Dna1394 Words   |  6 PagesDiscovery of DNA double helix: Related to both Scientific and Humane Aspects DNA, the molecule of life that carries genetic information in humans and almost all other organisms, has been considered as one of the greatest discoveries until now. If DNA could not have been discovered, we would not be able to do or test numerous things such as paternity test and pathological confirmation. There are four main scientists who contributed their lives, knowledge, and ambitions to find out the DNA double helixRead MoreDNA Profiling and Criminal Justice: Ethical and Legal Issues1079 Words   |  4 Pagesemergence of DNA evidence as a source of evidence in this search has become a powerful ally for both the prosecution and defense in criminal trials and there has been no clear cut advantage gained by either side of the equation. The use of DNA evidence, often referred to as DNA profiling, has given police and prosecutors a new, and more reliable, means of identifying criminal but the cost of the procedure, the time involved, and the general unavailability of labs to per form the testing has caused DNA profilingRead MoreUses for Trace Evidence in Forsensic Science1176 Words   |  5 Pages There are various uses for trace evidence in forensic science. Trace evidence can include a variety of disciplines including hair, paint, fiber, rope, soil, glass, and building materials. According to Locard’s Exchange Principle, every contact leaves a trace. Whenever a criminal comes in contact with a victim, there is an exchange of materials between the two. When discovered, this exchange can provide key evidence in a case. Paul Kirk (1974) states in his book Crime InvestigationRead MoreDna And The Old Cell1650 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction DNA is also known as Deoxyribonucleic acid, it codes the genetic information that is used in the expansion and functioning of all known living organisms and diseases. Frederich Meisher was the Swiss biochemist that first discovered DNA in the late 1800s, but not until a century later was it that researchers released the importance of the DNA molecule. DNA contains the biological instructions that make each species unique. One important feature of DNA is that it can replicate itself;Read MoreThe Invention Of Dna Testing932 Words   |  4 Pageseye witness misidentification, false confessions, and mishandled evidence are all just a few reasons for wrongful convictions in the justice system. However, the authors of Actual Innocence: When Justice Goes Wrong and How to Make it Right, discuss how DNA is a main factor into â€Å"actually innocent† people. Throughout this book we learn stories about those who were wrongfully convicted and later proven guilty for reasons such as DNA t esting. While this proves to us that not everyone convicted is guiltyRead MoreWhat physical evidence does in a criminal trial and the vast impact it can make1678 Words   |  7 Pageswithin cases that include physical evidence. Physical evidence, whether fibers, fingerprints, or DNA, can give a jury proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Physical evidence can convict a criminal, or it can free an innocent man. It can bring closure to families and to the law enforcement that work the cases. The following cases will show what physical evidence does in a criminal trial and the vast impact it can make. For each case I will examine how the physical evidence was important to the case and whetherRead More A DNA Bank Is Necessary Essay1472 Words   |  6 Pagesmolester is released from jail and that he is now traveling around the country looking for work. One day this criminal returns to his old ways and he attacks a young child whose dead body is found in a deserted field the following day. The only trace of evidence at the crime scene is a semen specimen on the boys clothes. Now this specimen could be useful if the police tracked down, and arrested the suspect, and then took a blood sample of his that matched the crime scene specimen. But, since no other cluesRead MoreDna Evidence And Its Repercussions1374 Words   |  6 PagesWe will examine the importance of DNA in the conviction of Tommie Lee Andrews and the significance of this decision in the United States Judicial System. We will discuss an overview of some of the essential elements in conducting utilizing this DNA evidence and its repercussions. This case signified the first time in the United Sates that DNA evidence was actually admissible in court proceedings during a criminal trial. In 1986, in a neighborhood around the Orlando, Florida area a series of violentRead MoreThe Role Of Eyewitness And Scientific Identifications854 Words   |  4 PagesAlthough Eyewitness and Scientific Identifications are important tools for the conviction of criminals, eyewitness testimony has proven to be persuasive evidence before a judge or jury but recent years of strong statistical research has proven that eyewitness identification is often unreliable. And can lead to atrocious acts such as wrongfully stripping an individual of his God given freedom for the majority of his or her life. Two prime examples of the detrimental impact that identifications haveRead MoreWhat is DNA? Where is it found? Essay660 Words   |  3 Pages What is DNA? Where is it found? What makes it so special? How does it work? DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid), is defined as a heredity material in humans or all over other organisms in this world. In a person’s body, nearly every cell has a same DNA. Mostly DNA can be found in cell nucleus and few are found in Mitochondria. (Christine A.Evers, 2012). †¢ COMPONENTS OF DNA: The DNA information is stored as a code and they are made up of four chemical bases: