Using DNA technology to track down the crime

USING DNA TECHNOLOGY TO TRACK DOWN THE CRIME

The characterization of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA ) lies at the center of criminal investigation as an extension of forensic typing of blood or any other biomedical samples that are relevant in critically analyzing the nexus that exists between the molecular identification and characterization techniques and forensic science . Advances in mapping and sequencing techniques of the human genome have not only yielded benefits to medicine and basic biology but also to forensic science Genetically determined variation in the proteins : the end products of DNA transcription

and translation , is the basis of differences in human blood groups (US-NRC 1992 . Since the advent of blood typing and its use in criminal investigation , the differences in blood groups has been instrumental in narrowing down the number of suspected individuals based on the biochemical results derived from serotyping of samples from the crime scene . DNA samples which can be isolated from a host of other biomedical samples usually left in the crime scene such as strands of hair , nail clippings , skin scrapings , blood spills and semen are instrumental in elucidating personal identification of suspected criminals and therefore a plus in criminal investigations and justice

Basically , DNA is the active substance necessary for hereditary passage of information from parental organisms to their offspring . Such genetic information is unique to each and every individual . It is on this basis that techniques such as PCR DNA fingerprinting thrive . This means that so long as samples are taken through thorough isolation , mapping...