How does DNA testing help determine guilt or innocence?

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DNA is nucleic acid found in every cell of the human body. Its function is to tell the cell what proteins to make so it can multiply. Like fingerprints, DNA is unique from one person to another, so DNA evidence found at the scene of a crime may provide crucial evidence to identify the perpetrator.

Forensic Science

Forensic science is the science involved in the collection and analysis of evidence from a crime scene. Forensic scientists use different lab tests to analyze evidence that can provide clues as to what happened at a crime scene.

DNA Analysis

If the perpetrator of a crime leaves behind biological evidence such as blood or saliva, forensic scientists working on the case may be able to retrieve DNA from that evidence. The DNA is analyzed through different methods, all aimed at providing a unique DNA sequence to identify the culprit.

DNA Fingerprinting

Much like with fingerprints, DNA sequences are unique from one person to another. Once a DNA fingerprint has been made from evidence at the scene of a crime, it is compared with DNA from a suspect or from a database of known DNA samples.

DNA as Evidence

Finding someone's DNA at the scene of a crime is not always a definitive piece of evidence that the person committed the crime. At the very least, DNA at the scene only indicates that the person was there. It is up to the investigators to find more proof.

Twin Cities, Twin Problem

In 2007, police investigating a murder in Minneapolis were unable to use DNA found on the murder victim as evidence. The DNA was shared by two identical twins, each of whom claimed to be innocent. In that case, other evidence needed to be gathered because it would be reasonable to assume that either man could have done it. Research in 2008 has shown, however, that twins, though identical, may not have identical DNA.

Source:

American Academy of Forensic Sciences: So you want to be a forensic scientist?

University of Washington: Basics of DNA Fingerprinting

NOVA Online: Creating a DNA fingerprint

More Information:

DNA Forensics

DNA links twins to unsolved murder

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How does DNA testing help determine guilt or innocence?

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