Dna Fingerprinting
Should all people convicted of a crime have their DNA fingerprints stored on a database?\
A DNA fingerprint is the same for every cell, organ and tissue in an organism. DNA fingerprinting has many uses, some of which include providing the evidence needed to solve criminal investigations, determining genetic relationships and solving paternity disputes. DNA fingerprinting has many benefits in the use of criminal investigations as it can provide the evidence to solve crimes and current mysteries, can free innocent suspects and can also cut out a great deal of investigation time. However, there are also many negative issues involved in the matter, such as privacy concerns, which may lead to discrimination and the mishandling or misinterpretation of the DNA evidence. Currently, there is a database where the DNA from samples collected at crime scenes is sored, although many believe that all people convicted of a crime should have their fingerprint stored on there. This raises the question “should all people convicted of a crime have their DNA fingerprints stored on a database?”
As everybody’s DNA is unique, DNA fingerprinting is rapidly becoming the main source for identifying and distinguishing amongst individuals. The structure of DNA is a double helix shape made up of a phosphate sugar backbone, which consists of a sequence of complimentary bases held together by weak hydrogen bonds. A DNA fingerprint is manufactured by first extracting the DNA from the cells and multiplying the DNA by performing the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The DNA is then analysed by use of restriction enzymes and electrophoresis.
The DNA is firstly multiplied by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which is artificial DNA replication. DNA is extracted from the cells, which were possibly found at the crime scene. This DNA is added to a test-tube simultaneously with free nucleotides, DNA polymerase and primers. Primers are a short stranded sequences of DNA that are complimentary to
A DNA fingerprint is the same for every cell, organ and tissue in an organism. DNA fingerprinting has many uses, some of which include providing the evidence needed to solve criminal investigations, determining genetic relationships and solving paternity disputes. DNA fingerprinting has many benefits in the use of criminal investigations as it can provide the evidence to solve crimes and current mysteries, can free innocent suspects and can also cut out a great deal of investigation time. However, there are also many negative issues involved in the matter, such as privacy concerns, which may lead to discrimination and the mishandling or misinterpretation of the DNA evidence. Currently, there is a database where the DNA from samples collected at crime scenes is sored, although many believe that all people convicted of a crime should have their fingerprint stored on there. This raises the question “should all people convicted of a crime have their DNA fingerprints stored on a database?”
As everybody’s DNA is unique, DNA fingerprinting is rapidly becoming the main source for identifying and distinguishing amongst individuals. The structure of DNA is a double helix shape made up of a phosphate sugar backbone, which consists of a sequence of complimentary bases held together by weak hydrogen bonds. A DNA fingerprint is manufactured by first extracting the DNA from the cells and multiplying the DNA by performing the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The DNA is then analysed by use of restriction enzymes and electrophoresis.
The DNA is firstly multiplied by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which is artificial DNA replication. DNA is extracted from the cells, which were possibly found at the crime scene. This DNA is added to a test-tube simultaneously with free nucleotides, DNA polymerase and primers. Primers are a short stranded sequences of DNA that are complimentary to
Bibliography: - Rice, Steven. “DNA strike rate soars.” Advertiser (Adelaide, Australia). 07 February 2011. - Professor Alec Jeffreys. “Too many innocent people are on forensics database.” Evening Mail. 29 December 2010. - David F. Betsch, Ph.D., State University Office of Biotechnology, 2007, ‘DNA Fingerprinting in Human Health and Society’, viewed April 2011. <http://www.accessexcellence.org/RC/AB/BA/DNA_Fingerprinting_Basics.php>. - Commonwealth of Australia, 2008, ‘DNA Profiling – Recent Developments and Future Directions’, viewed March 2011. <http://www.crimtrac.gov.au/>.