Dna
Running head: DNA The New Crime Investigator
DNA the New Crime Investigator
Nicolas Marcus
Mr. McCrum
March 24, 2008
Abstract
What is DNA? The scientific definition is “deoxyribonucleic acid, the biological polymer that stores the genetic information in all free living organisms. Two linear molecules entwine to form the double helix. Now that the definition has been stated, let’s now define what DNA means to a crime scene or case investigator. In the law enforcement business DNA has been introduce as a revolutionary and efficient accurate tool to solve and crack modern and cold cases. It also has played major roles in courtrooms through out the nation on either proven guilt, or revealing the truth behind the innocence on the wrongly accused and convicted by our own court system. DNA has also brought justice to those who have been brutally victimized of rape and sexual abuse by atrocious conniving sex predators.
DNA the New Crime Investigator
“DNA was discovered in 1868”, around the same time that the laws of heredity were being written by Gregor Mendel which laid the foundation for the modern science of genetics. A major break through which eventually made possible forensic uses of DNA occurred in the early 1950’s when James Watson and Francis Crick solved the puzzle of DNA’s structure and precipitated the revolution in molecular biology which followed. By solving the puzzle they made this foundation of our modern DNA analyzes used in today’s forensic science. (2)
Some of the characteristics that make DNA unique on its uses are:
• Each person has a unique DNA profile
• Each person’s DNA is the same in every cell
• An individual’s DNA profile remains the same through out life
• Most DNA is the same from person to person.(1)
DNA has many applications on the law enforcement fields on today’s crimes such...
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