DNA Evidence - History and Status

When Gregor Mendel published his studies of inherited characteristics of pea in 1866, probably does not know that he would end the beginning of a series of events, evidence-based conviction in 1987 for someone in the United States on DNA. This article describes the history and current status of the use of DNA testing in the United States. How DNA evidence is collected and used

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is a nucleic acid consisting of two chains of nucleotidesbound together into a double helix, and is responsible for determining the hereditary characteristics of every person. Historically, the DNA can only be extracted reliably from clean specimens of blood or other body fluids. Thanks to recent scientific developments, and traces of DNA extracted from a variety of samples, including licked stamps, dental floss, used razors, hair and even sweaty t-shirt will be strengthened.

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DNA testing has led to the laboratory where the sample is cleaned andprepared. The DNA is cut into small manageable pieces using enzymes, and then size classified using a process known as "gel electrophoresis". We all share some 99.9% of our DNA, but there are some regions of our DNA that differ. In some areas, due to repeated sequences of bases adenine, thymine, cytosine and guanine. The sequences, such as variable tandem repeats VNTRs number or known to create a unique and personal that can be used as DNA evidence.

DNA Evidence - History and Status

TheVNTRs are marked with a radioactive substance, make the instrument in position, a radiograph of the DNA sequence. These images, which are DNA evidence ultimately presented in court, can then be compared to the DNA sample collected from a suspect.

The DNA sample from the crime scene and the suspect are exponentially increased in a number of different VNTRs comparison, the probability that a meeting between the two samples is not an error. Statistically an innocent person would be moreare likely to be a lottery to improper DNA testing, provided that the correct number of sequences is analyzed to win. Where DNA testing is now

The first conviction by DNA testing in Portland, Oregon in 1987. Juries seemed hesitant at first accepted as conclusive DNA evidence, perhaps because of the complicated process - which has been extensively simplified for this article - that lawyers and experts to explain, hejurors. The process in its infancy was to doubt a lot of space for defense lawyers to use in cases against their clients. However, as science has continued to develop DNA evidence and technology gained a foothold in U.S. courts.

DNA evidence and associated technologies have been in the limelight when a man has been indicted by the name of OJ Simpson of murdering his ex-wife and her partner in 1995. DNA testing has played an important role inDisappearance of child beauty queen JonBenet Ramsey.

Used as well as the DNA evidence was to convict people of crimes, innocent people were wrongly accused and freed based on DNA evidence analyzed after the fact. Ten people released from death row in the United States, when DNA technology was finally made available to analyze their cases.

At the time of this writing, several states, prisons and communities to develop programs to create DNA databases, mostly fromthose considered dangerous criminals or high-risk criminals. The future of DNA testing in the United States is in the hands of legislators, courts and laboratories responsible for DNA.

DNA Evidence - History and Status