Why Is DNA Important In Criminal Investigation
Over the previous years the field of forensic science has radically expanded. Technological developments such as DNA profiling and how investigations are conducted has significantly improved humankinds ability to investigate and solve crimes through everyday science. The use of DNA evidence in criminal investigations has helped law enforcement identify criminals and solve difficult crimes. DNA can also be used to clear the accused and free people who are wrongly accused or convicted of crimes. DNA was first described by scientists Francis Crick and James Watson in 1953. It is the blue print that contains all the genetic data about an individual. Each person has the same DNA throughout their entire body, and it's located in every cell but
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Many of the DNA samples were analyzed and their profiles are imputed into the state database. The Combined DNA Index system (CODIS) is a national DNA databank that is funded by the FBI. It can be used to identify possible suspects by matching the DNA from the scene to DNA on file in the system. The Combined DNA Index System can help forensic crime labs on all ranks work together to find criminals and solve crimes in all …show more content…
Chain-of-custody is when a document is tracked beginning with detailed scene notes that document where the evidence was received from or collected. This is a record of agencies and everyone who has come into contact with the evidence. After the crime lab tests and processes the results the crime lab will give a full report of what they did to the evidence.
There are three methods that are currently used today to analyze DNA. The most common forensic method used to analyze DNA is polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR testing has allowed agents to examine evidence samples that before couldn’t be tested because it was too small of an amount, old, or degraded for former DNA analysis techniques. PCR works by taking very small amounts of DNA from evidence and making millions of copies of the same DNA. They do this so they can create enough DNA to generate a DNA profile and also allows lab technicians to analyze degraded biological
Many of the DNA samples were analyzed and their profiles are imputed into the state database. The Combined DNA Index system (CODIS) is a national DNA databank that is funded by the FBI. It can be used to identify possible suspects by matching the DNA from the scene to DNA on file in the system. The Combined DNA Index System can help forensic crime labs on all ranks work together to find criminals and solve crimes in all …show more content…
Chain-of-custody is when a document is tracked beginning with detailed scene notes that document where the evidence was received from or collected. This is a record of agencies and everyone who has come into contact with the evidence. After the crime lab tests and processes the results the crime lab will give a full report of what they did to the evidence.
There are three methods that are currently used today to analyze DNA. The most common forensic method used to analyze DNA is polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR testing has allowed agents to examine evidence samples that before couldn’t be tested because it was too small of an amount, old, or degraded for former DNA analysis techniques. PCR works by taking very small amounts of DNA from evidence and making millions of copies of the same DNA. They do this so they can create enough DNA to generate a DNA profile and also allows lab technicians to analyze degraded biological