Dna Profiling And The Legal System - 2099 Words

DNA 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 pairs which look like the rungs of a ladder, and are joined by alternating phosphate and sugar groups, which may be compared to the ladder s sides or legs. The bases adenine and thymine form what is known as one base pair, and the bases cytosine and guanine form the second base pair. The DNA in humans carries almost one and a half billion pairs of these bases within one strand of DNA. It is the order, or sequencing of these pairs that determines what information is available for the making and repairing of our bodies. These base pairs and groups are connected to form a ribbon-like structure which curls into what is known as a double helix or spiral. The spiral form provides stability to the structure, and the sequencing pattern might be thought of as letters which combine into words that communicate the necessary information needed by the cells in order to reproduce and replenish themselves. Much of human DNA is non-coding and appears to have no purpose that has been determined at thisShow MoreRelatedDNA Profiling and Criminal Justice: Ethical and Legal Issues1079 Words   |  4 PagesThe American system of justice is predicated on the search for justice. The emergence of DNA evidence as a source of evidence in this search has become a powerful ally for both the prosecution and defense in criminal trials and there has been no clear cut advantage gained by either side of the equation. The use of DNA evidence, often referred to as DNA profiling, has given police and prosecutors a new, and more reli able, means of identifying criminal but the cost of the procedure, the time involvedRead MoreDNA Conviction And The Truth Behind It In the world of forensic science, exoneration holds a very800 Words   |  4 PagesDNA Conviction And The Truth Behind It In the world of forensic science, exoneration holds a very crucial role. In cases where a person has been convicted of a crime and needs to be proven innocent, exoneration plays a key part. It is what helps the court to decide in a just manner whether the crime was committed by that person or not. Exoneration is based on DNA evidence and therefore, is the most authentic. The main purpose of exoneration is to help the legal system by allowing innocent peopleRead MoreDNA Profiling Essay example1376 Words   |  6 PagesOJ 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 identifyingRead 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 MoreRacial Profiling1215 Words   |  5 PagesRacial Profiling within America’s Criminal Justice System The criminal justice system of America is deeply scarred with racial bias. Crimes are being committed and, in turn, are resulting with innocent people doing hard-time. Thankfully, newfound methods of appealing court rulings are finding justice for these minorities; however, the results are as shocking as the crimes being committed. When it was found that the majority of successful appeals were of minorities, the true defects of the systemRead MoreDNA in Forensics Essays785 Words   |  4 PagesThe origins of DNA were first discovered during 1857 by Gregor Mendel the Father of Genetics†, whom was performing an experiment of genetics with pea plants, and would provide a basic foundation towards DNA and Genetics. Friedrich Miescher and Richard Altmann in 1869 were also part of the first people to discover DNA. While testing some sperm of a salmon, they discover a strange substance that they would name as nuclein, which is known as DNA. This new form of nuclein (DNA) would be f ound toRead MoreEssay The Future Potential of DNA Fingerprinting1338 Words   |  6 PagesPotential of DNA Fingerprinting   Ã‚  Ã‚   Abstract;   This paper explors the effects DNA fingerprinting has had on the trial courts and legal institutions. Judge Joseph Harris states that it is the single greatest advance in the search for truth since the advent of the cross examination (Gest, 1988). And I tend to agree with Judge Josephs assertion, but with the invention and implementation of DNA profiling and technology has come numerous problems. This paper will explore: how DNA evidence wasRead MoreA Visual Of The Mitochondrial Dna1484 Words   |  6 Pages Figure 2. A visual of the mitochondrial DNA molecule shows where the DNA gets analyzed by forensic geneticists, the hypervariable regions 1 and 2. Figure 3. The results of the TaqMan system containing the DNA numbers from various analyzed sampled. Thesis Discussion DNA phenotyping serves to determine the physical attributes of a specific individual based off of genetic material that was left behind at a crime scene. By being able to determine physical traits such as hairRead MoreDNA Technologies 1012 Words   |  5 PagesThe structure of DNA was discovered in 1953 and revealed to the world by James Watson and Francis Crick.1 Since then, there has been a whirlwind of activity and discovery in the fields associated with DNA. We have found that DNA is not only a set of instructions for the body, but that it also contains a lot of information about the individual who â€Å"owns† the DNA. As it is rapidly becoming cheaper and easier to process DNA, it is becoming more difficult to make sure that there is adequate legislatureRead MoreGenetic Profiling: Legal Studies1907 Words   |  8 PagesGenetic Profiling Genetic profiling is a contemporary issue relating to the individual and technology which restricts access to unbiased decisions and privacy. Genetic profiling interferes with the individuals bodily, genetic and behavioural privacy, as it can be used for the benefit of identifying bodies to using the results of a DNA test to choose whether to employ one individual over another, due to future concerns. It can easily be argued that genetic profiling is in the need of law reform