Use of DNA Fingerprinting for Identification
Until the early 1950s, how mankind inherited traits was a mystery to science. Today, most people are at least aware of DNA testing and fingerprinting, especially since almost all paternity tests use some form of DNA extraction. DNA fingerprinting may eventually overtake other forms of ID as DNA testing is not only highly accurate, but almost impossible to falsify.
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History
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According to The National Health Museum's Access Excellence website, Johann Friedrich Miescher unwittingly discovered DNA in 1869, but its function and identity was not known until the the early 1950's. Most of the bulk-work toward identifying DNA occured during the 1940's. Oswald Avery made the most important step by proving that germs could transfer genes from dead cells to live cells, but this theory was met with much skepticism by the academic community. In 1953 James Watson and Francis Crick would finally prove the structure and functioning of DNA.
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Misconceptions
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The term "DNA fingerprinting" is bit of misnomer derived from the identification of inking a person's hand and keeping a copy of their thumb pattern, according to AccessExcellence. DNA fingerprinting is actually a log of the particular genes that make up a strand of a person's DNA. You can even analyze more than a just an identity from DNA, you can ascertain inherited diseases and determine paternity.
Use as Identification
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Because of the uniqueness of each individual's DNA makeup, storing a persons' DNA makes for a great method to verify an identity with little chance for foul play, claims AccessExcellence. Fingerprinting technology works as well as DNA identification, but surgeries are available to change hand patterns. Other methods such as photo ID cards can easily become lost.
Significance
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Although DNA mapping has been around for a few decades, authorities are just now beginning to adopt DNA fingerprinting as the preferred method for identifying people. The military is one of the early adopters for this method, according to AccessExcellence. Dog-tags can be easily stolen or lost, and blood testing is not very accurate for identification (See References 1).
Criticism
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So much information can be gleaned from a DNA test that it could lead to discrimination in the workplace, reports Business Week. DNA testing that reveals potentially chronic and deadly inherited genes could cause business to discriminate against a potential applicant. The employer may not want to risk paying expensive medical costs or spend money training a person if they are likely to become incapacitated .
References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of John Talbot
