Why Is DNA Fingerprinting Reliable?
DNA Fingerprinting is the analysis of genetic material and is used to identify a person based on the idea that everyone has a unique DNA profile. It is claimed to be one of the most accurate methods of identification and in recent years has been used in court cases to incriminate a suspect or to identify a body.
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Age Doesn't Matter
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DNA Fingerprinting has been used to solve criminal cases that have been cold for more than a decade. The rape of an 11-year old girl in Canterbury in 1988 was among the unsolved mysteries that was finally closed thanks to DNA fingerprinting. DNA fingerprinting has also helped to release those falsely accused including Guy Paul Morin, who was falsely convicted of murder in Canada but released three years in to his 25 year sentence, when DNA fingerprinting demonstrated he was not guilty.
It Only Takes a Little
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It does not take a lot of DNA evidence to identify someone. According to a 2006 article in the Guardian, Paul Hackett, the DNA manager for the Forensic Science Service, revealed a person can be identified with a single cell from their body using a technique called "low copy number". A trail of blood is not needed to identify someone. A single cell from an earprint left on glass could be enough.
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Only Twins Have the Same DNA
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Everyone is unique. According to the BBC, although 99.9% of human DNA is identical for different individuals, only identical twins have exactly the same pattern. DNA fingerprinting works by screening the DNA for certain sequences to find a person's unique pattern. On a basic level DNA identifies a person's sex, their physical characteristics and any hereditary illnesses they may carry.
Your Parents Gave It To You
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DNA fingerprinting is an accurate method of determining the identity of a child's parents. Because a child's DNA is a combination of the DNA of their mother and father. By searching for DNA sequences called Variable Number of Tandem Repeats (VNTR's) that match those of the parents, one can readily identify their relationship to their relatives.
No Matter How Badly Damaged
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DNA Fingerprinting is a reliable method of identifying even a badly disfigured body. According to the Department of Defense, active duty and reserve members of the military have their DNA records frozen and in cases where the body of military personnel cannot be readily identified, their DNA fingerprint can be matched regardless of how badly damaged the body is. "Even severely burned bodies often will yield DNA," Air Force Dr. Vernon Armbrustmacher says.
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References
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