The Advantages and Disadvantages of developing a Genetic Fingerprint profile for all Society.
Toni Hodson
The Advantages and Disadvantages of developing a Genetic Fingerprint profile for all Society
At the moment when a criminal investigation is undergone, a major role in the defence or prosecution is the evidence provided by forensic analysis. The evidence that is analysed is the DNA present at the crime scene, or found on a vital weapon, etc. The forensic scientists have found this invention to be extremely useful in the aid to combat crime. However the question has arisen whether the whole of society should have their own DNA kept in a database, so that in wide criminal investigations a list of suspects can be eliminated immediately without hassle to the public at the time. Nethertheless, a difference in opinion has become aware, is it morally ethical? will it be demoralising? Could it be seen as ethnic discrimination in certain cases? And then what will happen if the public refuse? This is why a mass debate is current going on, rising both the problems and advantages that could happen if this system was put into action.
But how is the database going to be built? Well as DNA is the building block of life, it will be the building block of the database. The structure of the DNA molecule is vital to be explained for the understanding of the DNA profiling system. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a long chained, double helixed molecule. It is made up of nucleotides which consist of a sugar (deoxyribose), a nitrogenous base and a phosphate. There are four bases, which are, adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine(C), and thymine (T), A DNA molecule is made up of these. [1]Then ‘A gene is a length of DNA that codes for a specific protein or polypeptide. In human cells, the DNA molecules are organised into chromosomes located within the nucleus.’ Overall in the total of DNA only 2% consists of genes, what is left is non-coding sequences known as introns. Within the introns are short sequences called core sequences that repeat over and over again. Everybody has different number of repeating core sequences, the repeating regions are known as minisatellites, and therefore different people have different sized minisatellites. From this structure of the DNA molecules, DNA profiling is based from two major factors. First the number of repeats of a core sequence changes considerably between each person and secondly that each individual has 50-100 different types of minisatellites made from different core sequences. As everyone has a unique DNA fingerprint, a sample makes the fingerprint. The sample can be made from any sample of tissue containing cells with a nucleus; therefore all that is needed is a drop of blood, a hair root or a small sample of semen, etc. It is not the actual process of how the database is made that is under debate it is the advantages and disadvantages from the effect of it that worry people.
