With advances in medicine and
technology, DNA testing became possible in the 1980's. Not only did the civilian
section of society benefit, but the criminal justice field also uses DNA testing
to help solve crimes. Many may ask what exactly is DNA testing. Basically, each
person has a unique code to his/her genetic makeup called DNA. The DNA code
determines everything about you such as eye color, height, hair color, skin
tones, and everything else that makes you who you are. Look for other great
material on this subject at http://www.sciencecanbefun.com. Every cell in our
body carries the DNA including skin, hair, blood, etc. Since there are millions
of combinations for each genetic identifier, no two people have the same DNA.
DNA is a wonderful tool for the criminal justice system that can use a hair
follicle, toothbrushes, saliva on a stamp or cigarette butt, or chewing gum to
determine if a suspect is the actual criminal. If the suspect is already in the
system, the DNA testing can identify who is responsible. If there are no samples
on file, the investigators can collect a sample and rule that person out or
confirm that person as the criminal.
Since we shed skins cells
constantly, DNA is easily found in our clothing and on objects that we touch.
Recently, DNA testing has been used to open old cases or to free wrongly
convicted people who were processed before DNA testing was available. Many cases
used blood typing, which is not as accurate, so DNA can overrule or confirm
those convictions.
Those of us the civilian sector can also find benefits in DNA testing.
Genealogical research can be done using DNA testing; for example, if you think
you may have certain ethnic group in your ancestry, you can be tested to find
out if that is true or not. Paternity tests have also become extremely accurate
due to DNA testing.
In cases where a child may be trying to find their biological family,
grandparents and siblings can also be tested to determine if there is a
relationship there. Others are storing their DNA test results in case they
should ever have to be identified, which especially useful for child
identification programs that try to help recover kidnapped children.
You can find DNA testing centers throughout the United States. They usually
charge a fee that can go up to several hundred dollars. For convenience, many
centers will send a DNA collection test to your home for you to collect your
samples and return by mail. Once they have finished testing, which can vary in
length of time based on the test needed, they mail the results back to you. If
it is a paternity test, it can take as long as two weeks to complete the
testing.
