Sam
Queen
DNA in Criminal Investigation and Forensic Study
Before 1986, at a crime scene police
used to look for a footprint and a witness that could identify who was the
contrite one. But now police try to find a DNA sample to identify to the victim
and the culprit. DNA
is used in most cases and virtually provides 100% insight on a person’s
identity and whether they are guilty or not.
Before
you learn about DNA you need to know a little background knowledge.
Deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA is the material in almost every living being
including humans (What is DNA?). DNA is found in almost every cell in
the human body. Most DNA is found in the cell nucleus (What is DNA?).
While
having background knowledge on DNA is essential to learn more about the study
and use of DNA you should know why it is used in a forensic lab. DNA
fingerprinting is a technique that studies the individual attributes of a
person’s DNA. The use of DNA fingerprinting has massively changed
maternity/paternity testing, forensics, and the identification of disaster
victims (Use of DNA in Identification). DNA is very useful
in the identification of a person or persons. According to www.dnai.org,
when preformed correctly, DNA based study not only shows proof positive
evidence, and it shows the identity of the person without bias (Use of DNA in Identification).
Now
that you know why it is used in a forensic lab you should know how it can be
used effectively. “Today's techniques can multiply the
DNA, producing millions of copies from tiny amounts of evidence, such as the
saliva from a cigarette butt” (Wittmeyer). This means that
even if it of the minuscule size police analysis can find it and multiply it so there are thousand if
not millions of samples at their disposal. “This
approach is also helpful for analyzing poor-quality DNA in evidence samples
collected from dirty crime scenes” (Wittmeyer). So even at a crime
scene in a forest and sewer a police scan can still find the crucial samples of
DNA to determine a verdict.
Now that you know about how DNA
can be used effectively you should be able to apply this to the real world. In
2007 a man by the name of Jason Nickerson, sexually assaulted a 16 year old girl
and then threw her out of the car and threatened to kill her family if she
didn’t cooperate. Nickerson took her purse and phone as well. The only way for
the jury to tell if the defendant guilty or not was by DNA sampling. "DNA has become one of the most
reliable pieces of evidence in criminal investigations and prosecutions,"
Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin said in a statement. "Not only does it
provide the opportunity for more efficient investigations, it also provides for
more effective investigations by assisting in cold cases, such as this one” (Crimaldi).
As
Richard Dawkins said, “DNA neither cares nor knows. DNA just is. And we dance
to its music.” In most cases that involve the identification of a victim or
criminal, DNA is something that can provide proof positive evidence of a
person’s identity.
Crimaldi, Laura. "Jury Convicts RI Man of Sexual
Assault." 11 April 2012. The Republic. 24 April 2012
<http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/f92cf89890d146caa2356685bf378072/RI--Cold-Case-Sexual-Assault/>.
"Use of DNA in Identification."
2003. DNA Interactive. 17 April 2012
<http://www.dnai.org/d/index.html >.
"What is DNA?" Genetics Home
Reference. 17 April 2012 <http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/handbook/basics/dna>.
Wittmeyer, Jacqui. "Can DNA Demand a
Verdict." Genetic Science Learning Center. 19 April 2012
<http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/labs/gel/forensics/>.
