The Pros And Cons Of DNA

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DNA is known as a deoxyribonucleic acid. Every single cell contains DNA and every living organism contains DNA. DNA is in many things like people’s blood, saliva, skin tissue, hair, and bone. In that case DNA could play a big role in evidence of different cases like criminal cases. DNA could help convict people that are guilty or they could eliminate those who were wrongly accused. The most common form of DNA is called polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The process is when millions of copies of small amounts of the DNA is made and then can be compared with the DNA profile from a suspect. Investigators can collect DNA from many different numbers of sources. Almost anything can contain DNA. For example in a sexual assault case any evidence like hair, skin cells, semen, or blood that is left on a victim’s body could be collected and be compared with samples to place a suspect at the scene of the crime. Like in a sexual assault case for evidence a physician or sexual assault nurse examiner would test for sexually transmitted diseases and collect evidence like fingernail scrapings and hair. This can be collected as evidence to figure out the person who sexually assaulted the person. And possible evidence could be found at the scene that could possibly link it to the person’s DNA. Sweat and skin cells could as well be used as evidence. If none of that works out then a DNA profile can be put into the FBI’s Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) to identify a suspect anywhere in the U.S. DNA evidence could also be contaminated in the process of collecting the DNA. Because of this the investigators always wear disposable gloves and avoid touching other objects. With the right care of the evidence the DNA can be stored for years without degradatio...

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... the crime scenes contain many mixtures of more than one person’s DNA, which can lead to false accusations. Even if there is evidence of a DNA match at the crime scene doesn’t mean that they committed the crime it depends on the evidence towards the person. Again criminals could still mess with the DNA and evidence of a crime scene, which can lead to many suspects of a crime. For example someone who wanted to falsely accuse a certain person could have planted a cigarette. But just because DNA of a person was there doesn’t mean it was them. DNA shouldn’t be the final proof because there could be many other things to prove a person’s innocence or guilt like getting a video of something that could possibly connect to the crime. Witnesses could be a big part in a crime as well because they could document everything they saw or heard and be used against a person in court.

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