DNA Profiling Essay example - 1376 Words

From cases such as OJ Simpson to Chandra Levy, DNA profiling also called DNA fingerprinting or DNA typing has played a major role in the criminal justice system. The law enforcement community uses DNA profiling to rule out or identify suspects. Unlike hair microscopy, bite mark comparisons, shoe print comparisons, and firearm tool mark analysis, DNA typing has been developed through massive scientific research and has undergone meticulous scientific evaluation (Innocence Project). DNA is a foolproof method of identifying a perpetrator of a crime. Like fingerprints, DNA is unique, with the exception of identical twins; no two people have the same DNA. DNA profiling is a technique that can identify the person responsible of a violent†¦show more content†¦With over three million base pairs in the human gene, forensic scientists are able to distinguish a person’s genetic makeup. . DNA profiling was first introduced to the criminal justice field in the mid-1980’s (DNA Initiative). DNA profiling was first described in 1984 by Alec Jeffreys, a geneticist at the University of Leicester in Britain (Aronson, 7). Dr. Jeffreys found that the genes that have no function, called â€Å"junk DNA† is where most of the variation is used for DNA profiling (Aronson 9). This region contains DNA sequences that repeat over and over again. Alec Jeffreys determined that the number of repeated sections at different locations vary from individual to individual (DNA Initiative). Consequently these repetitive regions became known as â€Å"variable number of tandem repeats† or VNTR’s. RFLP or restriction fragment length polymorphisms became the first scientifically accepted DNA analysis method in the United States (Jones). The repeat segments are cut out of the DNA strand by a restrictive enzyme that acts like scissors and the resulting fragments are sorted out by electrophoresis (Saferstein 391). However, there are some drawbacks using the RFLP method in the forensic science community. The RFLP technique requires a large amount of DNA and must be of high quality and cannot be degraded (Jones). Forensic scientists and the law enforcement communityShow MoreRelatedDna Profiling2599 Words   |  11 PagesDNA profiling is a method of identifying an individual by unique characteristics of their DNA. A specific DNA pattern, called a profile, is obtained from an individual or a sample of tissue. This allows the comparison of the base sequence of two or more DNA samples to determine whether they are related. DNA profiling has many uses, in prevention of economic fraud, dietetic work, and classifying species, identifying bodies, forensic science, screening for disease, and investigating paternity. Read MoreDna Fingerprinting : Fingerprinting And Profiling1219 Words   |  5 Pages     Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚   DNA Fingerprinting/Profiling   Ã‚  Ã‚   DNA fingerprinting and profiling(DNA FP) took over the forensic world in the late 1970s. Since then, profiling has made forensics almost effortless. Profiling has evolved dramatically from the beginning stages of the replications.   Ã‚  Ã‚   DNA FP was invented by a man that goes by the name Alec Jeffreys. He was a British geneoligist. This process is called fingerprinting because it is highly unlikely for two people to have is for them to be identicalRead MoreDna Analysis : Dna Profiling725 Words   |  3 PagesTammy Venhuda Mrs. Paris P.4 English 7-8 10-20-17 DNA Profiling Hook: Have you ever thought about your personal DNA and why it is important to you? Besides showing factors of how you grow, develop, and function, your DNA has more to it. What is DNA profiling? DNA profiling is when someone uses DNA to identify someone, make sure someone is not being wrongly accused, or to claim criminals. But there are pros and cons to DNA profiling. This is because some people are for it and others are againstRead MoreA Brief Look at DNA Profiling1366 Words   |  6 PagesDNA profiling has several advantages in helping solve crimes, however, there are still disadvantages to this technique. DNA profiling can be beneficial, as well as detrimental to the society we live in. DNA profiling has become the most widely used tool in the field of forensics because of the advantages it has to offer, although there are some drawbacks when it comes to utilizing this technique. DNA profiling has greatly enhanced law enforcement investigation by helping determine the suspect i nRead MoreWhat is DNA Profiling?1659 Words   |  7 PagesAnthropology Forensic DNA Analysis What is DNA Profiling? There are many different terms used in conjunction to DNA Profiling; DNA testing, DNA typing and genetic fingerprinting. This is a technique which is used by Forensic Scientists by means of assistance in the identification of individuals by their DNA profiles. A DNA profile is an encrypted set of numbers w0hich reflects an individual’s DNA makeup. This encryption can also be used when identifying a person. DNA profiling is NOT however a fullRead MoreDNA and DNA Profiling Made Simple Essay3445 Words   |  14 Pages1.1. Amplification If the quantity of the DNA isolated is not enough, the specialist increases it to optimal levels via an amplification technique that uses the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) process. In addition, PCR targets specific locations on the DNA strand known as the loci (singular: locus) to produce similar copies. 1.2. Electrophoresis In this process, the specialist separates the materials based on their size and composition of the DNA strands on a particular gel in the presence ofRead MoreDna Profiling And The National Dna Database System1130 Words   |  5 PagesPart B: Report DNA Profiling: Is it ethical to have national DNA database system? Introduction: Today, the advancing gene technology provides humanity with numerous benefits such as Genetically Modified Food, CRISPER, and one of them is the use of DNA profiling for storing bio-information. DNA fingerprint technology allows mapping of individual’s genetic patterns that can be stored into the database system (What is DNA fingerprint? 2016). The ability to profile gene effectively, DNA fingerprintingRead More The Implications of DNA Profiling Essay3166 Words   |  13 PagesThe Implications of DNA Profiling Former attorney General Janet Reno described our system of justice as a search for the truth.(1) Increasingly, the forensic use of DNA technology is an important ally in that search. DNA fingerprinting, better known in the scientific realm as DNA profiling, has given police and the courts a means of identifying the perpetrators of rapes and murders with a very high degree of confidence. However, nine years after its introduction, forensic DNA typing is still usedRead MoreDna Profiling And The Legal System2099 Words   |  9 PagesDNA Profiling In forensics, when using a DNA profile or evidence it has to follow guidelines usually given by the legal system. DNA profiling is a very powerful method used for forensic identification, and there has never been a case where two individuals have the same DNA profile. DNA is a long curved structure, made up of pairs of four specific bases: adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine, is the repository of a code from which all of our cells are made. The code is made up of base pairsRead MoreDna Profiling And The Criminal Justice System1372 Words   |  6 Pagesto use DNA profiling to match the semen to a suspect. Colin Pitchfork became the first person to be caught based on mass DNA screening, and the first to be convicted based on DNA profiling. The use of Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) in the criminal justice system has greatly tipped the scales in favor of law enforcement, and changed the world that we live in. Court cases that in the past relied heavily on eye witness testimony and circumstantial evidence now have science to back them up. DNA analysis