Why DNA Tests Are So Popular

DNA tests have become very popular over the past 20 years. You can't turn on the television or read a book without hearing something about DNA testing.

It has many useful applications. It is used to determine unknown species of animals to find out what they are, profiles are used in criminal investigations and court matters, it is used in many medical applications, and scientists can use it to find out what ethnicity a 5000 year old skeleton might be.

By using a DNA test, scientists have been able to examine the genetic structure of all kinds of plants and animals. Even some dinosaur DNA has been examined to help give us some insight into what made them what they were. All types of animals and plants have been cataloged already and more are put in place every day. Whenever an unknown animal is discovered it is immediately tested and put in its proper category. This also helps dispel certain myths caused by mutated dogs and other animals. This type of testing is being used in mummies and very old bodies to determine their race, what diseases they may have had, and the area they came from. Historians are gaining a lot of information this way that wasn't available just a few decades ago. They can figure out where people came from, and what they were doing there more easily if they know the ethnicity of the body they have found.

DNA tests are used in criminal investigations and help to convict criminals by matching their DNA to crime scene evidence or running it through a database to see if it matches any unsolved crimes. When people commit a crime they leave DNA evidence sometimes at the scene by blood, sweat, skin, hair, or any other bodily fluid. Many times this can be found by a team of crime scene investigators and analyzed in a forensic laboratory. This helps speed up the court and conviction process and saves governments a lot of money. Many rapists and murderers are convicted much easier as they tend to either leave behind some DNA or possibly get some of their victims DNA on their bodies or clothing. The most famous DNA case was the O.J. Simpson trial in the 1990's. This cleared up many myths about DNA and made it much more widespread and familiar to the general public.

Paternity tests use DNA tests to determine who a child's true parents are. This is widely popular and eliminates false child support payments and helps people with custody matters. are all over television on a daily basis. The recent Anna Nicole Smith death was followed by paternity tests and was followed closely by the media.

Medical researchers use DNA testing methods to keep track of inherited diseases in groups of people and families. They also screen unborn babies for potential diseases and give the parents many options on treatments and can plan better before the baby is born.