The Power of DNA in the Courtroom Essay -- Exploratory Essays Research

The Power of DNA in the Courtroom      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In 1893, Francis Galton introduced a remarkable new way to identify people ("Fingerprinting" pg 1 par 3). His observation that each individual has a unique set of fingerprints revolutionized the world of forensics. Soon, all investigators had adapted the idea to use fingerprints as a form of identification. Unfortunately, over the course of the past century, criminals have adapted to this technique and seldom leave their incriminating marks at the crime scene. Forensics specialists were in need of a new way to identify criminals, and DNA provided the answer. When it comes to genetic material, it is virtually impossible for a criminal to leave a crime scene "clean." Whether it is a hair, flakes of skin, or a fragment of fingernail, if it contains genetic material then it has potential to incriminate. However, there are still concerns regarding DNA fingerprinting. What are the implications of using these tests in a courtroom scenario? What happens when DNA tests go awry? It is debatable whether or not DNA fingerprinting has a place in America's court systems.    The actual technique behind DNA profiling is fairly new. According to the National Research Council (NRC), this method has been around for about ten years. They go on to say that despite "reproducibility and reliability of the methods" and "despite the potential power of the technique, there [are] serious reservations about its actual use" (NRC pg 1). Still, laboratories across the United States have undergone technological advances to bring DNA testing to the local level. These up-dated labs now have the equipment and means to handle genetic evidence, but the public must be ready to accept this ne... ...advances in genetic technology, and I believe it will not allow the courts to base their decisions solely on genetic evidence until all procedures are accurately performed. This is, after all, just one more system of identification, one that may prove to be even more momentous than Galton's fingerprints ever were. Works Cited Ballantyne, Jack, George Sensabaugh, and Jan Witkowski. DNA Technology and Forensic Science. New York: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 1989. Fingerprinting. Homepage. 1 May, 1997. AIMS Education Foundation. 22 October, 1999. <http://www.aimsedu.org/activities/gimmefive/gimme2.html>. National Research Council. The Evaluation of Forensic DNA Evidence. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press, 1996. Singer, Colin R.. DNA Testing. Homepage. 22 October, 1999. <http://www.singer.ca/dna.html>