OPPapers.com

Dna And Crime

DNA and Crime


Deoxyribonucleic Acid - the fingerprint of life also know as DNA was
first mapped out in the early 1950's by British biophysicist, Francis Harry
Compton Crick and American biochemist James Dewey Watson. They determined the
three-dimensional structure of DNA, the substance that passes on the genetic
characteristics from one generation to the next. DNA is found in the
chromosomes in the nucleus of a cell.
"Every family line has it's own unique pattern of restriction-enzyme DNA
fragments. This variation in patterns of DNA fragments found in human genetic
lineages is called ‘restriction-fragment length polymorphism'(RFLP)." (Louis
Levine, ?) Because each person, except for identical twins(which have the
exact same DNA), is formed from two family lines the pattern of sizes of the
fragments from an individual is unique and can serve as a DNA fingerprint of
that person. These ‘fingerprints' have became very important in identifying
criminals in a number of violent crimes where the victims aren't able to. Blood
or semen stains on clothing, sperm cells found in a vaginal swab taken after a
rape, or root hairs are all available for analysis. Although other body tissues
such as skin cells and saliva can provide genetic information about a person for
Forensic Science purposes, blood is the most useful source of inherited traits.
If the DNA fingerprints produced from two different samples match, the two
samples probably came from the same person.
Here are some examples of court cases where DNA plays an important roll
in the outcome of the trial.
Hauppauge N.Y.: After 11 years in prison for rape Kerry Kotler cried tears
of joy becoming one of the first convicts in the United States to be freed by
DNA technology. At a banquet held for Kotler he received a standing ovation from
the guest's of his lawyer, Barry Schech and Peter Neufeld, who would later use
their DNA expertise to help free O.J. Simpson.
Now the very weapon used to free Kotler...