What is DNA - Research Paper Example

? DNA DNA The criminal justice system has improved over the years and advancements in the field of forensic medicine have revolutionized the way crimes are tackled and dealt with today. Criminal investigations are done in an in-depth manner and this has made it difficult for the offenders to easily get away with their crimes. Scientists have played a great role in this progress as it is due to their efforts that the understanding of the human body has become possible. DNA which is a biochemical substance in the human body is one such example. Following the understanding of DNA, it has become an important tool used by forensic experts and it has become an important part of the criminal justice system. DNA which stands for deoxyribonucleic acid is a biochemical molecule that is basically made up of two DNA chains that are complementary to each other. These chains are interwoven polynucleotide chains whose basic units are four nucleotide subunits. The DNA molecule is a helical structure with the stands being attached to each other via hydrogen bonds. DNA carries the genetic information of every individual. The strands of DNA separate and each strand is utilized for the purpose of transferring of genetic material. Any living organisms including the human beings only synthesize those proteins in their body whose information is present on their DNA (Alberts 2002). The work for the discovery DNA started towards the end of the nineteenth century. The Swiss chemist Friedrich Miescher recognized DNA as a chemical molecule in the late nineteenth century. Research work on DNA continued and other scientists who included Phoebus Levene and Erwin Chargaff worked hard for finding out its structure and chemical bonding. They laid down the scientific foundation which was then followed by Watson and Crick who finally discovered the helical structure of DNA and explained the functioning of DNA and its genetic coding (Pray 2008). Testing of DNA on biological materials which included body fluids, hair and the skin started in the year 1985 in U.S.A. This procedure is the most reliable clinical investigation and is of utmost importance in the inquiries of rape cases. This is because DNA is a biochemical molecule which consists of the entire unique genetic pattern of an individual. The efficacy of these results of DNA testing from the biological materials is even above 99 percent. The first criminal who was awarded punishment following DNA testing was a rapist, Tommie Lee Andrews in the year 1987 in Florida (James 2009). There are many uses of DNA. Its usage in the criminal investigation procedures is its most common use. Biological materials are tested for DNA and this provides for the conviction of criminals in cases which include murder as well as sexual assault. DNA testing is also used for confirming the relationship status of individuals. It can assist in finding lost people. This was true following the September 11 attacks in the United States when DNA testing was performed to identify and tell the families of the victims regarding the deaths of their loved ones. Furthermore, paternity DNA testing can also help solving cases related to property as well as custody related issues. Apart from the legal and criminal field, DNA testing has been extremely crucial for providing with breakthroughs in the medical field for the discovery of new pathological conditions. It has also been helpful for anthropologists to understand evolution and human existence (Lamb 2007; James 2009). The criminal justice system has greatly changed and progressed following the usage of DNA testing procedures. DNA databases have been created in many countries across the globe for the purpose of assessment and identification of offenders. In the United States, by the year 2009, the FBI had the DNA samples of all the criminals who had been convicted as well as the sexual wrongdoers from all the states of the country. Maintenance of such criminal records is one of the breakthroughs in the criminal investigations that have been provided by the DNA testing strategies. Criminal cases have been dealt with differently following the advent of the usage of DNA. Many serial killers as well as sexual offenders have been punished by the court with the assistance of DNA tests. The efficiency and accuracy of DNA testing for the protection of the innocent people who are convicted of crimes is greater than its accuracy in finding criminals. In Columbia, the court convictions of 240 people were taken back after they were proved innocent due to DNA testing. Scott Fappiano who spent twenty years of his life in prison for the criminal charges of rape of a woman was released in the year 2006 after his DNA tests proved the fact that he could not have been the offender. Thus, drastic changes in the criminal justice system and the outcome of criminal cases have been observed after the utilization of DNA testing (James 2009). DNA analysis has led to the identification of offenders in crimes that were committed as old as three decades ago. Wayne Williams was a criminal who could not be convicted in 1981 for the murders of many children as sufficient evidence was not available. Patrick Baltazar was one of the victims of his crime and the hair obtained from his body was sent for DNA testing. The DNA testing provided evidence of the fact that the samples matched with the DNA sequence of Williams and the animal hair that was found on Baltazar’s body was coming from Williamm’s dog. In the year 2010, a three decade old criminal case was brought to a conclusion owing to DNA analysis strategy (Polk 2010). Another crime that took place in London reached to its conclusion owing to the DNA testing of the dog hair. The criminal Chrisdian Johnson who was 22 years old chased the victim Seyi Ogunyemi who was 16 years old with his pet dog. The dog captured Ogunyemi and Johnson then murdered the teenager. The DNA testing of the dog’s hair provided for definite evidence in this case and the conviction of Johnson (The Telegraph 2010). The responsibility of maintaining the DNA database in New York is on the New York State DNA Databank which started functioning in the year 1996. This Databank of New York city is a branch of the national Combined DNA Index System which maintains the DNA database of all the states of the United States. The FBI also has a role in connecting the different states for criminal investigations. This connected strategy allows for the criminal investigating agencies to work in collaboration. The state has eight authorized laboratories for the performance of DNA tests from criminal sites and these laboratories are interlinked as well so that they can share crucial information for the purpose of improving the criminal justice system (Division of Criminal Justice Services n.d.). Many controversies have emerged with regard to the authenticity of the DNA testing strategies and the results of these tests in the state of New York. The medical examiner’s office in the New York City concluded the fact that criminal clues and evidence had not been handled properly in the city for approximately 800 cases. 26 cases were already identified where false negative tests had been given and hence sexual offenders were not punished. This has led to questions being raised for the DNA analysis conducted in the city against the criminals (Goldstein 2013). DNA is a biochemical molecule whose structure was properly understood in the year 1953 with the efforts of Watson and Crick. It is a molecule which consists of genetic information of every individual. DNA testing started being used in the year 1985 in the United States. Following its usage, many criminal cases have been solved. It is an important technique for the criminal justice system as it assists in the identification of criminals as well as proves the innocence of the people who are wrongly convicted. DNA databases are maintained in the United States for identification of criminals. It is very important that DNA analysis should be managed by experts with utmost care so that controversies similar to the one that has arisen in New York City can be avoided. References Alberts, B. (2002). Molecular biology of the cell. New York: Garland Science. Division of Criminal Justice Services. The NYS DNA Databank and CODIS. New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services. Retrieved from http://criminaljustice.state.ny.us/forensic/dnabrochure.htm Goldstein, J. (2013, January 10). New York Examines Over 800 Rape Cases for Possible Mishandling of Evidence. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/11/nyregion/new-york-reviewing-over-800-rape-cases-for-possible-mishandling-of-dna-evidence.html?_r=0#h[] James, R. (2009, June 19). A brief history of DNA Testing. TIME U.S. Retrieved from http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1905706,00.html Lamb, H. (2007) DNA Testing: Its Uses in Today's Modern Society. Yahoo ! Voices. Retrieved from http://voices.yahoo.com/dna-testing-its-uses-todays-modern-society-159998.html Polk, J. (2010, June 9). DNA test strengthens Atlanta child killings case. CNN Justice. Retrieved from http://articles.cnn.com/2010-06-09/justice/williams.dna.test_1_hair-samples-dna-testing-harold-deadman?_s=PM:CRIME Pray, L. (2008) Discovery of DNA structure and function: Watson and Crick. Nature Education. Retrieved from http://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/discovery-of-dna-structure-and-function-watson-397 The Telegraph. (2010, March 18) Man convicted of killing in first 'dog DNA' murder case. The The Telegraph. Retrieved from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/7473348/Man-convicted-of-killing-in-first-dog-DNA-murder-case.html Read More