What Are Some Advantages and Disadvantages of Using DNA Analysis to Aid Law Enforcement in Crime?
DNA analysis has become an important tool for law enforcement. cure image by Andrey Kiselev from Fotolia.com In little more than two decades, DNA profiling has become one of the most valuable tools in forensic science. By comparing highly variable regions of the genome in DNA from a sample with DNA from a crime scene, detectives can help prove the culprit’s guilt–or establish innocence. Despite its utility in law enforcement, however, some applications of DNA have proven controversial. Advantages The great advantage of DNA profiling lies in its specificity. Even relatively minute quantities of DNA at a crime scene can yield sufficient material for analysis. Forensic scientists typically compare at least 13 markers from the DNA in two samples. In a test with 13 markers, the probability that any two individuals would have identical profiles is estimated to be below 1 in 10 billion. Consequently, when specimens are collected properly and the procedure is performed correctly, DNA profilin
