The DNA Analysis As An Integral Part Of The Modern Forensic Science

Today, the development of genetics and criminal science contributes to the fast development of the DNA analysis applied by forensic detectives in the course of the investigation of crimes. The progress of the forensic science relies heavily on advancements in other fields of science. In this regard, genetics has become one of the most important fields of science used in the contemporary forensic science because genetics has contributed to the introduction of the DNA analysis, which is now considered to be and actually is one of the most reliable and accurate methods of the identification of individuals. The progress of the modern science became the main condition of the application of the DNA analysis to forensic investigations and contributed to obtaining accurate information to identify individuals and other applications of DNA analysis that facilitate the investigation of crimes.

Historically, forensic science focused on diverse fields of science to investigate crimes and to obtain information required for successful investigations. For example, anthropometry became one of the first manifestations of forensic science, which helped to identify suspects and criminals fast. In the course of time, the forensic science kept evolving and progressing introducing new methods of investigation, especially in the field of identification of individuals. For example, initially anthropometry was used as the main method of identification of individuals, but steadily, it was replaced by the use of fingerprints and other methods of analysis (Owen, 2000). Forensic investigators attempted to use the advancement of science to obtain reliable and effective methods of analysis, which allowed them to obtain succinct and possible more detailed information about crime and individuals involved into the crime. The progress of science stimulated the emergence of new methods of forensic investigation as well as identification of individuals.

The development of the forensic science stimulated the development of new, more and more effective methods of investigation and identification, among which the DNA became the mainstream method of the identification of individuals that is currently applied in forensic investigations. The discovery of DNA and the steady progress of genetics opened new opportunities for forensic detectives to use advances in this scientific field to investigate various crimes (Owen, 2000). The DNA analysis is grounded on the use of the DNA material of individuals involved into crimes, either victims or offenders or third parties related to the crime. Unlike traditional methods of forensic investigation, such as finger prints, the DNA analysis opened wider opportunities for the identification of individuals. For example, finger prints required the presence of finger prints on the crime area, while the DNA analysis requires the presence of any genetic materials, such as hair, blood and other materials, which contain DNA of individuals. As a result, investigators could use any biological material containing DNA to conduct the DNA analysis, which could help to identify individuals involved in crimes as well as to identify the personality of the offender, in particular. The higher effectiveness of the DNA analysis compared to conventional methods of forensic investigations contributed to its growing popularity and now this method of analysis is one of the most popular and reliable methods of forensic investigation.

Researchers (Wambaugh, 2010) insist that the DNA analysis provides the high accuracy of the individual identification to the extent that the accuracy is close to 100%. The high accuracy of the DNA data analysis in the individual identification makes it one of the most reliably methods of forensic investigations. The forensic investigation relies heavily on the DNA analysis because such analysis has the high level of accuracy. The accuracy is pivotal in the investigation of crimes because the accuracy of the investigation determines the effectiveness of the investigation and minimizes the risk of errors. For example, the failure of investigators to determine accurately the personality of the offender, may lead to the erroneous sentence, while the DNA analysis can provide investigators with the accurate information on the ground of which investigators can make the accurate decision on the personality of the offender. If offenders find an object with remnants of blood of a robber, then they can identify the personality of the offender by comparing the remnants on the crime area and the DNA of the suspect. If two pieces of genetic material, i.e. DNA of the material found on the crime area and DNA of the suspect, then investigators can make the logical conclusion that the suspect is the criminal. In many cases, the DNA analysis turns out to be the determinant factor contributing to the investigation of crimes.

At the same time, the DNA analysis keeps progressing today and scientists work on the improvement of the quality of the DNA analysis and expansion of the scope of its application. Some researchers (Miller, Dawson, & Hagelberg, 1996) conduct studies of specific human mtDNA regions to identify new, more effective approaches to DNA analysis that help to maximize the accuracy of DNA analysis. Recent experiments in the field of DNA analysis help to identify key approaches to the forensic investigation and use of DNA analysis that can increase its effectiveness (Miller, Dawson, & Hagelberg, 1996). New developments in the field of DNA analysis help to enhance the effectiveness of such analysis applied to forensic investigations. Forensic detectives rely heavily on the DNA analysis due to the high accuracy of such method of analysis, especially in terms of the identification of individuals.

At the moment, genetics keeps progressing and the DNA analysis becomes more and more widely-used in the forensic investigation. The DNA analysis is accurate and now the wider application of this method of analysis is not only the result of the scientific progress but also the result of the decreased costs of such methods of analysis. As scientists work on the improvements of the DNA analysis, their findings lead to the reduction of costs of the DNA analysis, while the reduction of costs opens wider opportunities for forensic detectives to use such analysis in their investigation of various crimes. The further progress of the DNA analysis is essential because the accuracy of forensic investigations is pivotal for the overall effectiveness of the crime investigation.

Thus, today, the DNA analysis has already become an integral part of the modern forensic science and forensic detectives use this method of analysis to conduct their investigations fast and effectively. The progress of genetics made the DNA analysis one of the most effective tools of the identification of individuals. This method is more reliable than traditional methods, such as finger prints analysis because it is easier to obtain biological material containing DNA and the accuracy of the DNA analysis is close to 100%. The further progress of the DNA analysis and its application to forensic science helps to reduce its costs and expand the application of this method of analysis for the investigation of crimes.

 

References:

Miller, K.W.P., Dawson, J.L., and Hagelberg, E. (1996). “A concordance of nucleotide substitutions in the first and second hypervariable segments of the human mtDNA control region”. International Journal of Legal Medicine (109): 107–113.

Owen, D. (2000) Hidden Evidence: The Story of Forensic Science and how it Helped to Solve 40 of the World’s Toughest Crimes. New York: Quintet Publishing.

Wambaugh, J (2010). The Blooding. New York: A Perigord Press Book.

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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