DNA Profiling and the Different Uses of this Technology

DNA testing, also known as DNA typing is a certain technique that is used by the Criminal Justice as well as forensic scientists. This type of testing can be a powerful tool in helping solve a case, and proving whether a person is innocent or guilty.

When did DNA profiling first start?

DNA profiling first started out in the 1980s, and it has been extremely successful for testing in crime scenes, paternity testing, and predisposition to disease. The polymerase chain reaction or PCR, was invented by Kary Mullins in the United Kingdom, and in 1986, Dr. Alec Jeffreys made genetic fingerprinting available to the public. In 1986 was when DNA was first used in a criminal investigation by Dr.Jeffreys. 1986. The investigation used genetic fingerprinting in a case of two rapes and murders that had happened in 1983 and 1986. These crimes happened in a small town called Leicestershire, which is located in the United Kingdom. They collected fingerprints and connected them with semen stains collected from where the raping and murders were located. Then in 1987, DNA evidence was first used in the United States on a Florida rapist man, Tommie Lee Andrews. After using DNA evidence in his case, he was then sentenced to 22 years in prison for the rapes that he had committed.

Dr.Jeffreys also made it available for people to perform identity tests. Since the 1980s, DNA testing has just become a popular way of finding out things through people’s DNA. However, the FBI did not start using DNA testing until 1998, but it can become very helpful to those who need to find out something in that area. Thousands of different cases have been cracked and many innocent people have been freed from jail or prison because of the use of DNA provided by family.

What was the main use of DNA testing?

It doesn’t matter what the reason is for the DNA testing, the test is done in the same way. First a sample will be collected, for an example; a blood sample will be collected, and then process of the test begins, to determine the results of the test, then the scientists will need to compare the sample of the blood, along with what was found at the scene of the crime to determine whether or not that the DNA matches up with the DNA that is being testing.

With the technology that is around today, dealing with DNA testing, the process just keeps on improving, and becoming a more powerful tool. I’m sure if you were to ask someone that works in the Criminal Justice Field, or a Forensic Scientist, they couldn’t imagine doing their jobs without the use of using people’s DNA to get the answers that they need to finish their jobs. According to records, the FBI now has the DNA records of more than 5 million convicted offenders, including those that are considered sex offenders. And all of those that are registered sex offenders are required to submit a DNA sample to law enforcement. This is active in all 50 states in the US.