Why Is Forensic Dna Testing Important

Forensic DNA testing

In Today’s forensic DNA testing is used all around the world to catch

criminals. Forensic DNA testing is able to catch suspects and analyze their

data correctly to be able to identify their suspect and be sure to identify their

suspect and be sure it is the right person. DNA testing is 100% accurate and

is the most effective type of testing there is and can change many lives such

as criminals, fathers and children.

Before forensic DNA testing the most accurate testing their was to

catch suspects was finger prints. Finger prints were used occasionally to catch

suspects that were at time of the crime and to identify if they have had a past

criminal record, the finger printing
method has been used for over a 100 years

and was established in 1915. But over the years scientist have developed a

better and new way to identify their criminals with just one strand of hair ,

scientist say that “ DNA is the fingerprint of the 21st century ’’ ( john Walsh ).

“ DNA testing was the first three-dimensional Xerox machine” ( Kenneth

Ewart Boulding).
DNA collection and analysis gives the criminal justice field a

powerful tool for convicting the guilty and exonerating the innocent. “ The

greatest single achievement to date was surely the invention of the molecule

DNA” ( Lewis Thompson). About Forensic DNA provides general

information on a wide range of topics such as paternity testing,

Mitochondrial DNA testing, and Y-chromosome testing.

“ The DNA testing fields emerged in 1985, biological material skin,

blood, and other body fluids has emerged as the most reliable physical

evidence at a crime scene, particularly used in sexual assaults’’ ( Annette

Davis). In 1987 Tommy Lee Andrews was the first person in the united states

to be convicted as a result of DNA evidence, and was sentenced 22 years in

prison. The next year “ the south side strangler” was sentenced to death

when DNA testing linked him to several murders around Richmond. “ Most

cases don’t turn on DNA evidence. Most rely on eyewitness, testimony and

defendants” ( Barry Staubus ). “ The information incoded in your

How is all works is simple, two samples are taken, one from
the

suspect and one from the scene. The DNA is extracted, studied, and

compared “ a DNA sequence for the genome of approximately 5,375

nucleotides has been determined using the “ plus and minus” method. The

sequence identifies many of the features responsible for the production of the

proteins of the nine genes of the organisms ”( Fredrick Sanger) . If the DNA

matches then the suspect was at the crime. The samples are then analyzed and

their profiles are interviewed and entered In the star data base. The FBI (

feudal bureau of investigation) keeps them in a laboratory for safe keeping.

DNA runs off cells witch allows it to be so precise and accurate “ All DNA is

strung through cells, which is simply an extension and elaboration of the first

molecule ”( Lewis Thompson).

Not only is DNA testing used to catch criminals, it is also used for

paternity and Mitochondrial testing as well. “ DNA paternal/maternal is

provided nationwide in the united states” ( Dave Clancy), Paternity testing is

used all around the world for families who have their doubts if the child is

theirs. What they do when they perform the test is gather an adults y

chromosomes and come pair them to the Childs y chromosomes and evaluate

them to see if they are alike in some way and if so the child has met his

genuine father. “ Maternal lineage testing ca confirm your relationship to

long lost relatives and possible ancestry through the maternal male/female

line” ( Lewis Thompson). Mitochondrial DNA testing can trace a person's

maternal Ancestry and traces your roots back several years back . It

can also show photos of your ancestors.

“The information encoded in your DNA determines unique biological

characteristic such as sex eye color age and social security number’’(Dave

Barry). There are 3 regions which can be tested, the coding region, HVR1

and HVR2. “HVR stands for Hyper Variable Regions which are locations in

DNA where the code repeats’’ ( William Mason). The analysis finds

mutations and transitions in your DNA to decipher your maternal history.

“ Even though DNA testing may take several weeks maybe up to month it is

still one of the most accurate types of testing and has been proven that the

chances if it being rong is 350 million to one’’ ( Ethan Avers).

Some online research found out that DNA testing has some down

falls, like DNA theft. Other people steal people DNA to make it seem like

they were at a crime “ A moral principal in genetic testing is that it should

always be done with consent of the individual” ( Dave Barry) , in other words they use it to

frame other people so the wont get caught. “No one wants someone snooping

around in their DNA’’( Leonard Calpan), In Massachusetts they released a

“genetic bill of rights” stating that individuals should have property rights to

their own DNA.

DNA testing changes lives in many ways for all types whether its

criminals or family members. Fathers and mothers sometimes have to take

DNA tests to identify their true children or for fathers and mothers. There

have been many case where a parent has to pay child support for many years

to children that aren’t really his, but now that DNA testing is available for

everybody they can find out the truth.

This amazing technology has helped police departments all around the

world find suspects that have been on the run for many years.