DNA Profiling Essay

The development of the contemporary genetics opens large opportunities for the development of other sciences, including criminology. In this regard, one of the major achievements of genetics is DNA profiling which is often applied to the field of criminology to identify individuals and their DNA samples, or profiles. The application of DNA profiling became possible due to the effective development of genetics, biology, and criminology mainly. The blend of the extensive knowledge in the field of genetics and criminological experiments aiming at profiling contributed to the rise of DNA profiling as one of the most reliable methods of individual identification because, unlike other methods of identification based on the use of fingerprints, for example, are not as reliable and accurate as is the case of DNA profiling. In spite of seeming complexity of DNA profiling, this process is applied widely in the field of criminology as well as other fields to identify individuals on the ground of even a tiny sample of their body since scientists just need a DNA sample to create the accurate DNA profile. However, some individuals oppose to DNA profiling out of sheer religious or other cultural or ethical concerns. Nevertheless, today, DNA profiling has become virtually a norm and it is basically the most reliable method of the individual identification so far.

In fact, DNA profiling is a process where a specific DNA pattern, which is actually called profile, is obtained from a person or sample of a bodily tissue. Even a tiny pattern of the body tissue is enough to conduct the DNA analysis and obtain a DNA profile of a person because DNA profiling is a profiling at the molecular level. The use of bodily tissue or other DNA samples does not need the collection of a substantial biological material or the use of body parts as do other methods of profiling. For example, to obtain fingerprints of individuals to make a profile of individuals on the ground of the fingerprint analysis, which was the dominant method of profiling in the past because it was considered to be the most reliable method of individual identification, requires the clear fingerprint that means that individual should leave a fingerprint of his or her finger, while in case of DNA profiling a mere hair is enough for profiling. In spite of the technical complexity of DNA profiling, its reliable outcomes and the high level of accuracy make this method of profiling one of the most accurate so far.

In its essence, the current technique for DNA profiling involves the use of polymorphisms called short tandem repeats. Short tandem repeats are regions of noncoding DNA that contains some repeats of the same nucleotide sequence (Benoff & Grauman, 2007). The nucleotide sequence that actually repeats creates the basis for DNA profiling because this identical nucleotide sequence is unique and allows identifying the individual on the ground of a bodily tissue or any DNA pattern obtained from a person. In fact, short tandem repeats create the basis for the identification of the DNA pattern that may be used for the further DNA analysis and profiling.

As a rule, genetics examine short tandem repeats from ten or more genetic loci of an individual, which are usually from different chromosomes. Genetics obtained information about the individual on the ground of such analysis. For example, they can determine whether a person is male or female. The analysis of short tandem repeats allows genetics to create the DNA profile of an individual. The identical short tandem repeats prove that they belong to one and the same individual and belong to the individual that has those identical short tandem repeats. There are no other people with the absolutely identical DNA profile, although DNA profiles of family members, for example, a father and a child or DNA profiles of siblings from the same biological parents, may be very similar.

In general, DNA profiling includes several steps. First, genetics need to obtain a sample of DNA, which may be a bodily tissue, for example, like a hair or any other DNA pattern, like saliva, for example. Then, the obtained sample is used to extract the DNA pattern with the help of which genetics can conduct the further analysis and create the DNA profile. The obtained DNA sample is copied to obtain the sufficient amount of DNA to create the DNA profile. After that genetics determine the size of DNA and they can compare DNA sequences. In such a way, genetics create the DNA profile.

If the DNA patterns obtained by genetics match, then the probability that they are from different persons is extremely low. At any rate, DNA profiling is the most accurate and reliable methods of individual identification. In fact, DNA profiling involves the use of the DNA pattern, while identical patterns occur only if they belong to one and the same individual. At any rate, researchers (Duin, 1999) insist that the probability of the belongingness of identical DNA patterns to different individuals is virtually improbable. This is why DNA profiling is widely-applied, when the accurate identification of individuals is needed.

The application of DNA profiling is wide since this method of the individual identification is very reliable and accurate and does not need much biological evidence to be collected by genetics to complete this type of profiling. Often, DNA profiling helps to determine the probable origin of a body sample associated with a crime or crime scene (Siegel, 2013). Forensic detectives can determine the identity of the individual on the ground of that sample and, thus, they can help to identify a victim or a criminal, depending on the circumstances and locations, where the DNA sample was found. In addition, DNA profiling is often used to reveal family relationships. For example, DNA profiling is an effective tool of the revelation of family relations between individuals, including the revelation of one’s fatherhood, when DNA samples of family members are obtained and compared in terms of DNA profiling. Also this profiling technique is used to identify disaster victims. When it is almost impossible to use other methods of individual identification, DNA profiling can help to identify victims of disasters. As bodies of victims of a disaster may be severely damaged in the course of the disaster, family members and public cannot identify them properly. In such a situation, DNA profiling is particularly helpful because genetics just need a tiny sample of a body tissue to conduct the DNA analysis and determine the DNA profile of a victim.

The high reliability and accuracy of DNA profiling makes it an effective tool of the individual identification, but some individuals oppose to the application of such profiling method out of their religious or ethical concerns. They may oppose to the use of their bodily tissue for the DNA analysis because it contradicts to their beliefs and ethical norms. However, often, DNA profiling is the only way to determine the individual identity and forensic detectives investigating a crime or just genetics, who may help to identify disaster victims, face the ethical dilemma whether to create the DNA profile on bodily samples available to them or respect religious or ethical norms of individuals, who oppose to the DNA analysis and DNA profiling (Hayward, 2004). In fact, DNA profiling is absolutely benevolent, unless the crime is committed. DNA profiling may be used to identify a criminal, for example, and, if evidence is strong and DNA profiling is needed, a judge may allow conducting the DNA analysis or accept evidence obtained from such analysis as the evidence of the criminal’s guilt, for example.

Thus, DNA profiling is a highly reliable and accurate method of the individual identification. DNA profiling involves the use of a DNA sample and extraction of short tandem repeats, the comparison of which helps to create the DNA profile of individuals through the comparison of the obtained DNA sample with that of an individual. The field of the application of DNA profiling is broad, but, as a rule, DNA profiling is used for individual identification, if crime is committed; for the identification of family members; and for the identification of disaster victims. In spite of seeming and actual complexity of DNA profiling because of the use of advanced genetic technologies, this method of profiling is very effective because there is extremely low chance that identical DNA samples belong to different individuals. At any rate, there is no more reliable and accurate method of the individual identification so far. Naturally, some ethical issues may emerge, in case of the application of DNA profiling but there is the clear legal procedure which prevents any risks of the violation of individual religious or ethical beliefs by the DNA profiling procedure. This is why DNA profiling is effectively applied in the contemporary criminology, disaster management, and other areas.

References:

Benoff, M., & Grauman, D. M. (2007). Mastering the physician integration challenge. Healthcare Financial Management. Westchester.

Duin, J. (1999, July). “Reckless reproduction?” Insight on the News 15 (26), 41.

Hayward, K. J. (2004). City Limits: Crime, Consumerism and the Urban Experience. New York: Routledge.

Siegel, L. J. (2013). Criminology, 8th edition. New York: Thomson-Wadsworth

The terms offer and acceptance. (2016, May 17). Retrieved from

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"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016.

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freeessays.club (2016) The terms offer and acceptance [Online].
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[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]
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