Serious Problems with DNA Fingerprinting
Is there any piece of physical evidence so foolproof it could be used to prove or disprove anyone's case in a trial? Many people believe the answer to this question is DNA. In theory, this argument is true, but many believe certain factors can lead to inconsistent data gathered from DNA. There are many differing opinions on how DNA should be used, or if it should be used at all.
Many people are uninformed about what DNA actually is or how it is used in criminal trials. DNA is the generic term for deoxyribonucleic acid. It is a molecule found throughout the entire body that determines all inherited characteristics (Forensic Testing Division, 1998). Someone receives half of his or her genetic makeup from each biological parent, making each person's genetic makeup unique, except for identical twins.
Since the genetic makeup of each individual is entirely different from another, it is believed that DNA can be used to prove exactly who was at a crime scene and who was not. The process to determine whose DNA has been gathered at a crime scene is known as DNA fingerprinting. In actuality, only 2% of DNA are genes; the rest is called "junk DNA" which biological purpose is unknown (Verrengia, 1997). Junk DNA is what is mainly used in DNA fingerprinting.
DNA can be found in many different substances including hair, saliva, blood, and other fluids or tissues. That junk DNA found in these substances are tested in different ways including Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism and Polymerase Chain Reaction. These tests are usually referred as the RFLP and PCR tests, respectively.
In these tests, DNA is exposed to enzymes which cause the strands t...
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According to the case, the problem with production was the lead time. Due to the timing in supply of the painted bottles and the lengthy brewing process, the company could not provide beer to their distributors at any time they needed it.
This report addresses the issue of whether Amsterdam Brewery should invest and promote new products or continue to focus on current products. And, whether Jeff Carefoote should pay attention to whole brands or spent expense to increase brewing capacity. The report describes a strategic plan to ensure Amsterdam Brewery’s competitiveness in the market.
By the end of 1994, even this brewery failed to satisfy the increased demand and plans were made for a new brewery which opened in May 1996 in Denver. This brewery had a maximum output of 60,000 barrels per year after expansion.
How these factors enabled MMBC to create such a strong brand; and why, despite its strong brand, MMBC was experiencing a decline in 2005. I will show that the decline is due to changes in beer drinking patterns, markets, and demographics in the region as well as the U.S. in general.
Abstract; This paper explors the effects DNA fingerprinting has had on the trial courts and legal institutions. Judge Joseph Harris states that it is the "single greatest advance in the search for truth since the advent of the cross examination (Gest, 1988)." And I tend to agree with Judge Joseph's assertion, but with the invention and implementation of DNA profiling and technology has come numerous problems. This paper will explore: how DNA evidence was introduced into the trial courts, the effects of DNA evidence on the jury system and the future of DNA evidence in the trial courts.
Another example of a lack of communication from the poem Gray explains, "No matter how many times she tells him that he's not listening, he doesn't get it and keeps doing the same thing. She wants empathy, but he thinks she wants solutions" (Gray 15). This theory relates to the poem "Home Burial," because the wife wants her husband to show empathy about the child's death. The husband, however, does not seem to have the empathy she ...
DNA, or deoxyribonucleic exists in all living organisms, is self-replicating and gives a person their unique characteristics. No two people have the same matching DNA. There are many different forms of DNA that are tested for situations such as criminal. Bodily fluids, hair follicles and bone tissues are some of the most common types of DNA that is tested in crime labs today. Although the discovery of DNA dates back to 1866 when Gregor Mendel proved the inheritance of factors in pea plants, DNA testing is relatively new and have been the prime factor when solving crimes in general. In 1966, scientists discovered a genetic code that made it possible to predict characteristics by studying DNA. This lead to genetic engineering and genetic counseling. In 1980, Organ was the first to have a conviction based off DNA fingerprinting and DNA testing in forensics cases became famous in 1995 during the O.J. Simpson trial (SMC History , 2011).
DNA testing is one of forensic sciences core techniques. Everyone has there own individual DNA profile, even identical twins. DNA is in every cell of our body. In the 1980s, a British scientist named Sir Alec Jeffery's, developed DNA profiling. Our DNA can be separated from human cells found at a Crime Scene, with perspiration, blood, skin, the roots of hair, semen, mucus, and saliva. The Colin Pitchfork case was the first murder conviction established on DNA profiling evidence.
Forensic genetics has other applications . The " fingerprint " DNA represents a valuable tool for forensic science . As is the case with an ordinary fingerprint genetic fingerprint is unique to each individual (except identical twins ) . The determination involves the observation of specific DNA sequences which can be obtained from extremely small tissue samples , hair, blood or eventually left at the scene . As Fifty microliters of blood, semen or five microliters of ten roots of hairs are enough , and nozzles secretions and cells from the fetus . In addition to its use in the capture of criminals , especially rapists , the genetic fingerprints can be used to establish family relationships . People involved in the conservation of species use them to be sure that captive breeding is among individuals who do not belong to the same family .
Forensic Scientists can extract semen from a rape victim and use it to help identify the criminal. The semen extracted contains traces of DNA. Deoxyribonucleic acid, also known as DNA, is “the hereditary material in humans and almost all other organisms” (“What is DNA?”). Similar to fingerprints, no two persons have identical DNA with the exception of identical twins. The FBI began using DNA testing in criminal investigations in 1998 (Hays). In 1994, Congress authorized the Combined DNA Index System, also known as CODIS (Hays). This is a system of DNA records from national, state, and local crime labs (Hays). It contains more than four million DNA samples from convicted offenders, and more than 160,000 samples from crime scene evidence (Hays)...
“Love is magical, and it can last, if we remember our differences” (Gray 14). Gender communication differences are very complex, yet somewhat remarkable. Dr. John Gray explains that it is as if men and women come from different planets. Unfortunately, many times men and women forget that they are supposed to be different (10). In addition to the biological natural differences between males and females, society treats and values each gender very differently, all of which plays a big part in how they communicate (Papadopoulos 2). Dr. Gray states, “When you remember that men are from Mars and women are from Venus, everything can be explained” (10). If a man and woman do not take the time to understand, respect, and become aware of their differences,
Since Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) is the building block of all genetic material and its structure is unique and unchanging, it is a highly accurate method of identifying the origin, and the originator, of unknown DNA samples (National Human Genome Institute, 2011). DNA profiles are extracted from genetic and biological samples collected from crime scenes and potential suspects, and then compared against DNA profiles registered in CODIS. While attempting to determine the donor of the sample, a probability match percentage is generated. This technique is known as DNA fingerprinting. According to Explore Forensics, an independent ...
What is DNA? DNA is deoxriybonucleic acid which is a molecule that is in a double-helix structure described by James Watson and Francis Crick in 1953. DNA contains our genetic code which is composed of triphosphate molecules, which are also known as the ‘building blocks’ of DNA. There are four bases included in the DNA molecule they are called the four nitrogenous bases. The bases are Thymine, adenine, guanine (purines), thymine and cytosine (pyrimidines) (http://forensicsciencecentral.co.uk/dna.shtml). This shows that DNA isn’t so easy to understand, there is certain bases to make up the DNA molecule. This is important because it helps compose the pieces to DNA and helps find traces to the victim. “The more useful sources include blood, semen, vaginal fluid, nasal secretions and hair with roots” (http://forensicsciencecentral.co.uk/dna.shtml). This quote is important because it singles out the most occurrence of DNA. In order for DNA testing to take place scientists will have t...
relationship problems between men and women because of the fundamental psychological differences between them. The author represents men and women from two different planets. Men are from Mars and women are from Venus. This book also states the difference of values of men's and
As far back as 1832, James Marsh was the first to use forensics at trial to give evidence as a chemist in 1832. Since that time forensic science and evidence has come a long way in various ways and technology to help in determine if the suspect is guilt or not, through such things as DNA testing, blood, and fingerprints. The first forensic police crime lab was created in 1910. The contributions of Dr. Edmond Locard, a French scientist and criminologist, proposed that “everything leaves a trace”. This principle is still valid today as it was so many years ago. No matter how small, the specialized trained technicians and investigators can take these methods and go to a crime scene to get evidence. “Forensic science is the application of sciences such as physics, chemistry, biology, computer science and engineering to matters of law.” (Office of Justice, 2017) These different sciences can help achieve and assist in solving a case. Forensic science has also the ability to prove that a crime was committed, it can find the elements of the crime, it can help place the suspect at the scene and whether the suspect had any contact with the victim. However, in the last several years the techniques and with the use of technology the evidence that forensic science uncovers can also exonerate an innocent individual who has been falsely accused of the