DNA Profiling - An Investigative Report

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Ben Clarke, Eric McQuiggan

05/27/02

DNA Profiling - An Investigative Report

What is DNA profiling?  What types of cases is DNA profiling used for?  How is DNA profiling done?  What is the admissibility of DNA profiling in court?  We plan on answering all these questions about DNA profiling.  We will be taking an in-depth look at how this forensic tool is used. We will also be discussing some background information on the subject.

1. What DNA Profiling is:

To answer the question of ‘What is DNA profiling?’ we can simply just look at the title DNA profiling for the answer.  DNA profiling is a biological tool, in which scientists are able to sort and compare samples of DNA material.  DNA profiling can only be used if there is enough DNA in the samples collected, and it is also only useful in comparing samples.  Due to a recent development in Victoria, a DNA profile can now be completed from the DNA that has been left on objects touched by the skin.  This now provides a very powerful tool for forensic crime scene investigators.

2. Types of Cases:

To answer the question of what types of cases DNA profiling is used in we looked to an Internet source, which provided us a table of case percentages.

DNA profiling is usually carried out when human biological tissue or fluid is found at a crime scene, and can be used to link a possible suspect to a case.  Samples taken from a crime scene can be compared to a sample from a known suspect, or be compared to a database of DNA profiling results (from other crime scenes, or other convicted criminals).  If there is a ‘match’ in the DNA profiles, then the samples have more the likely came from the same person.

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3. Constructing a DNA Profile:

i. How the Profile is Done:

        When collecting the samples of DNA from a suspect, a mouth swab is usually used.  However, DNA can be collected from a crime scene from blood, semen, saliva, bones, or hair.  When the sample has been collected, and there is a enough DNA present to complete the profile, the DNA must be processed.  

        There are a number of techniques that are used by different labs, however we will be discussing one technique that is the most common.  This technique involves a process based on STR [(Short Tandem Repeat), ...

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