DNA Is A Key Component In The Area Of Forensic Science

DNA use in the area of forensic science is rapidly evolving. 10 years ago it wasn't used nearly as much as it is today.

Every person and animal has unique DNA that can help scientists determine their identity much easier than by using other means. Blood typing used to be a standard practice but considering there are only a few different blood types, this didn't narrow down the amount of suspects very much and relied heavily on witnesses and luck. DNA testing uses a few key regions of the DNA strand and compares them between two samples. What the scientists are left with is sometimes referred to as a "DNA fingerprint".

Forensic scientists use the DNA they recover to help identify people involved in crimes and disasters, determine paternity, solve missing persons cases, free innocent people that have been put in jail, and solve all types of mysteries and crimes where there is a lack of evidence. The common places to gather DNA from crime scenes is handles of objects, hair left from people, condoms, blood, and almost anywhere someone has touched or handled. DNA can be found in sweat, semen, saliva, blood, tissues, and almost every bodily fluid. Forensic scientists can even recover DNA from licked envelopes!

One of the most important things police can do is keep a crime scene secure. If people are able to get into the crime scene before evidence is collected, there is a great potential for contamination. It makes the forensic scientist job very difficult if a bunch of people are wandering around a crime scene sneezing, dropping hair, and touching objects. This could potentially lead to a criminal being exonerated or possibly even an innocent person being wrongfully accused. If you ever witness a crime or come across a place a crime happened, unless someone needs your help immediately, don't touch anything or even get near it if you can avoid doing so.

Forensic DNA was brought to the spotlight around the world with the O.J. Simpson trial that was televised in the 1990's. They had days of specialists describing the aspects of DNA and how it compared to people. This made DNA rather famous. Now it is used in many movies, novels, and television shows on a regular basis.

All the samples that are gathered at a crime scene are taken to the nearest forensic laboratory for analysis. These labs may operate on a local, state, or federal level and can be private laboratories or government sponsored. Depending on the area, many times a laboratory might not have the equipment or expertise for certain testing and will have to send their samples elsewhere. There are many private DNA analysis companies that assist law enforcement in their tests.

A little known area of forensic DNA involves wildlife. Many people have been tried and convicted of breaking laws regarding endangered species and hunting out of season. This can be very serious and if an animal has been butchered sometimes through DNA testing, the species can be determined.