DNA EVIDENCE

DNA Evidence: How it is an Invaluable Tool

DNA Evidence: How it is an Invaluable Tool

Introduction

DNA is an acronym for the medical term deoxyribonucleic acid, a term that is defined as the material that forms the genetics of the human body and all other animals alike. As part of ongoing criminal proceedings, the comparison of DNA from a person - or group of people - with those found at the scene of the crime helps to identify the culprit. Moreover, the DNA stored in a file can be used for the elucidation of other cases. The determination of DNA requires a biological sample and thus constitutes a violation of physical integrity of the person. Similarly, registration and preservation of DNA in a file may cause concern for civil liberties.

History of DNA Evidence

DNA comprises four key enzymes and basis of chemical produce that connect and mould, thereby aiding to define a specimen's DNA: thymine (T), guanine (G), cytosine (C) and lastly adenine (A). These nitrogen bases mentioned above combine into pairs of two-guanine bonding only with cytosine and adenine bonding only with thymine-to form valuable compositions of the human index. Adenine and guanine are heterocyclic compositions comprising five to six types of each, more compactly labeled as purines, while the remaining are six-member rings called pyrimidines.

The bases, along with a phosphate and a sugar strand, combine together to form strands and layers of substances called nucleotide. Nucleotides, more formally termed as the double helix. This stock of chemicals comprises valuable information that will help us generate and become beings that we may be in the future. DNA analysis was first proposed in 1985 by the English scientist Alec J. Jeffreys. By the late 1980s, it was being performed by law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and by commercial laboratories (Gans & Urbas, 2002). It consists of comparing selected segments of DNA molecules from different individuals. Because a DNA molecule is made up of billions of segments, only a small proportion of an individual's entire genetic code is analyzed.

The first piece of work contributed in the area of DNA testing was restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). Initially discovered and brought forward by Sir David Botstein and other coworkers, Sir Alec Jefferys, an English Biochemist, who primarily described and presented the model of “DNA fingerprinting”. In addition to the above, Alec input this method into the criminal justice system of the time for better understanding and inspection of a particular victim or verdict whoever the case may have been related to. Usually at the time, during the 1980's, criminal activities, fraud, rapes, robbery, killings, murder, etc. significantly prevailed the entire system and the country, plaguing it with all forms of misery and pain for all to witness and suffer, and leading to putting the innocent to death (Grandy, 2006). For this purpose, DNA testing and analysis was undertaken and initiated for the purpose of genuine punishment and finding the actual culprit during all this time, who wore a ...