| DNA Testing in the 21st Century | | | | the real person responsible for the crime be |
| | | | punished, but perhaps as in the case above, |
| One of the most exciting fields of study for | | | | many innocent people will be freed and be |
| technological advances has been DNA testing. | | | | able to live their normal life again thanks |
| DNA technology has come along way and we have | | | | to DNA technology. |
| seen it being used on many popular television | | | | |
| dramas such as Law & Order, 24, CSI, and many | | | | There are many more applications of DNA |
| others. Using DNA evidence has become one of | | | | research, even those for the most common |
| the most effective tools for solving crime | | | | person. Using human DNA one can even get in |
| scenes and punishing the truly guilty. In | | | | touch with his or her roots. I'm sure we have |
| fact DNA testing can even be used to clear up | | | | all heard stories of where we "think" our |
| old crimes committed many years ago! One such | | | | ancestors come from, but if you ever wanted |
| case happened to a man who had spent 21 years | | | | to be completely sure, there is an |
| in jail but was released recently after a DNA | | | | inexpensive, fast and easy way to find out. |
| trial in which his DNA was not found to match | | | | Many commercial DNA testing laboratories even |
| that left at the crime scene. Many other | | | | have at home kits which you can use to find |
| cases similar to this one have also used DNA | | | | out this information. Most only require that |
| technology to solve crime. | | | | you take a cheek swab sample, send it in and |
| | | | they will do all the DNA research required to |
| There is also one technique currently being | | | | find out your ancestry. They are able to |
| developed that may boost crime solving | | | | track where your ancestors have lived, where |
| statistics tremendously. This technique will | | | | they moved, and what traits and |
| also help solve crimes that have been | | | | characteristics made them different from |
| committed many years ago. For example, | | | | others. One woman, who has made a number of |
| sometimes DNA from many different people | | | | trips to Ghana, recently found out that she |
| found on one object used to commit the crime | | | | has roots there by using a home DNA testing |
| may be mixed together and be nearly | | | | kit. She always had felt an impulse to visit |
| impossible to tell who committed the actual | | | | the country and even went there on her honey |
| crime, but a new computer program has been | | | | moon, but only recently found out that some |
| developed which can distinguish each set of | | | | of her ancestors are from Ghana. This |
| DNA and match it to specific people. | | | | information brought her much comfort in |
| Therefore, it has become much easier and | | | | knowing where she her family came from and to |
| faster for investigations to be solved. Many | | | | get in touch with her roots. DNA technology |
| crimes have gone unsolved because of the | | | | therefore can also become a great tool for |
| problem that used to exist with matching the | | | | genealogical work and may be used more and |
| correct DNA to the correct person. However | | | | more as people become aware of the many |
| with this advance in DNA technology, many old | | | | different things they can do using DNA |
| crimes still being investigated will be able | | | | research. |
| to be solved. So if you are one who has | | | | |
| committed such a crime and got away with it, | | | | Jason Luke is a Client Account Specialist for |
| don't get too comfortable, one simple DNA | | | | 10X Marketing. Go now to GeneTree to find out |
| trial will unveil crimes committed many years | | | | more on the advances of DNA technology and |
| ago. Results are so accurate that they cannot | | | | its applications in today's world. |
| be refuted in a court of law. Not only will | | | | |