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