The Concept of Forensic Science - Research Paper Example

DNA Forensic al Affiliation) DNA Forensic Forensic science has become most outstanding and sensitive biological techniqueused world wide to identify unknown criminals by use of DNA of such individuals. law enforcers has found this methods most sensitive as most of their investigation has been eased and made quickly to ensure security issues is handled in the most accurate way possible and in situation where visual evidence is not available (Balding, 2005). However, there have been situations where DNA samples have been faked in the process making it difficult to identify specific criminals. DNA forensic has been useful in handling criminal cases such as theft, rape and murder. This procedure for DNA forensic always begins at the scene where the crime has take place. Biological samples like saliva stain, blood remains, and semen samples are identified, collected, and transported to the laboratory for forensic laboratory analysis. There are instances where the DNA technique cannot be useful unless the investigators have found sufficient historical information on the suspect in check when a match is made in state or either national database (Balding, 2005). Once the lab analysis is complete with suspect’s analysis, the report is made available to investigators who must have some knowledge about the suspect in question. This is the situation where the law enforcer’s gets most challenging situation, as the DNA for the profile for the real offender may not be available for comparison with the materials recovered in the crime scene. Besides they have to ensure that they create an environment that ensures that, they obtain information from the suspects in a way that respect the privacy of those individuals (Butler, 2005). DNA collection legislation The federal law gives the FBI security sector the responsibility to administer and give support to the national DNA index system. Therefore, various states have enacted laws that ensure the DNA of convicted criminals is collected on specific crimes. This has made many states improve and expand the mandates involving the collection to include and retention of the offenders DNA’s samples after arrest (Butler, 2005). Science and evolving technology of DNA Forensic There has been gradual improvement forensic science of DNA as compared to traditional way where most DNA forensic was entirely based on scanning the fingerprints of the suspects that are left at the crime scenes. This traditional method entailed manual identification of fingerprints in absence of the suspects (Butler, 2012). This method was referee as cold searching. The method was slow, challenging and was not practical. The fingerprints identified at crime scene could be searched against mass of database of previous arrest fingerprints. The technology of scientific forensic has widely improved with the use of biometric information. This as extensively helped in determining minimal chances of an individual having specific genetic profile. It is always done using several loci of different sizes in human DNA (Butler, 2012). Therefore the comparison of these latent fingerprints rely on the expertise and general experience of the examiner, whereas profiling and comparison of DNA majorly rely on probability of statistics in order to identify the specialty of the profile Forensic laboratories has made a progressive steps from the old ways of carrying out forensic research such as blood group typing methods to efficient ways of forensic DNA analysis (Carracedo, 2005). Currently, there is the use of multiplex chains of polymerase reaction and repeat of single tandem (PCR STR) which is capable of sole-source attribution production. In late 1986, PCR technique of molecular DNA was invented it revolutionized typing of DNA forensic through amplification of small fragments of DNA collected from crime scene. This technology was highly favored as it was fast, safe and economical (Carracedo, 2005). Typically, it was important for PCR DNA nuclear techniques in analysis of saliva, blood, and semen. Mitochondrial DNA was the second type of forensic analysis that was used in carrying out research of DNA found outside the cytoplasm cell. This type of forensic analysis was possible due to higher volume and susceptibility of cytoplasmic DNA to degradation of the environment. Besides, it was easy to obtain this cytoplasmic DNA profile from non-nuclei cells like hair shafts. This DNA is important in analysis of degraded samples of evidence such as decayed tissues and bones (Farley & Harrington, 2001). The drawbacks of this method of forensic method of analyzing the DNA are that the probability statistics resulting from mitochondrial analysis are not unique. More so the present DNA and technique used is expensive and consumes a lot of time. However, there is a hope for further improvement to ensure that this useful technique or method works efficiently. This mitochondrial DNA testing has gained a lot of popularity due to its ability to give results in situations where other specimen samples are not able to produce nuclear of DNA results. Besides ,the latest forensic technique which shows possible exploitation of greater compassion in typing of DNA is low copy of number abbreviated as (LCN).This technique gives the scientist in forensic to have future hopes of obtaining complete suspects complete profile. This method could also ensure improvement in forensic investigators arriving at crime scene equipped with modern forensic tools such as ultramodern hand held device for profiling DNA (Farley & Harrington, 2001). That is, at the scene of crime DNA profile would be availed through interface with database of criminal history. Legal ways of obtaining DNA samples There are four legal ways of obtaining samples of DNA from individuals for forensic analysis. These method include, voluntary method where suspect is voluntarily asked to submit sample of DNA for analysis, the sample can also be obtained through court order where the law enforces authorizes sample collection from suspect. Besides, the sample may be obtained through law where statute authorizes the collection of DNA and lastly through abandonment where the suspect gives up items that contain his or her DNA (Kobilinsky, Levine & Margolis-Nunno, 2007). Information sharing between CODIS, AFIS, and Criminal The DNA database (CODIS) technique, comparison of fingerprint (AFIS), and the historical information of the criminal are highly important tools for enforcing law. This makes it possible for the law enforcers to identify suspects easily before comparison of the fingerprint is done to the initially acquired fingerprints at the database (Kobilinsky, Levine & Margolis-Nunno, 2007). Exchange of insufficient information among the CODIS, AFIS, and records of the suspect avails awareness to the authorities the existence of potentiality of forensic evidence regarding to the convicted offender. Major benefits that are obtained from connection of different forensic techniques should be utilized to enable the forensic scientist to improve on their accuracy, information from utility and time among others Conclusion The technology of using DNA identifies and separates the criminal, then DNA profile is always kept separately and far apart from identification of information that compose the criminal history, situation that shows the privacy concerns and possibility of DNA misuse of profile information. The use of DNA profile existence and possible location within the history of criminal record explains the significant of safety of the public and operational benefits. For instance when a suspect possesses DNA profile on the state database and the evidence is entered into the database when there are no matches resulting to that, then the law will consider diverting their investigation to another suspect. References Balding, D. (2005). Weight-of-evidence for forensic DNA profiles. Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons. Butler, J. (2005). Forensic DNA typing. Amsterdam: Elsevier Academic Press. Butler, J. (2012). Advanced topics in forensic DNA typing. San Diego, CA: Elsevier Academic Press. Carracedo, A. (2005). Forensic DNA typing protocols. Totowa, N.J.: Humana Press. Farley, M., & Harrington, J. (2001). Forensic DNA technology. Chelsea, Mich.: Lewis Publishers. Kobilinsky, L., Levine, L., & Margolis-Nunno, H. (2007). Forensic DNA analysis. New York: Chelsea House. Lincoln, P., & Thomson, J. (2008). Forensic DNA profiling protocols. Totowa, N.J.: Humana Press. Rudin, N., & Inman, K. (2002). An introduction to forensic DNA analysis. Boca Raton, Fla.: CRC Press Read More