DNA Fingerprinting Profiling in Criminal Forensics

Since the development of the DNA fingerprinting profiling process in 1985 by British scientist Sir Alec Jeffreys, criminal forensics has made use of this powerful technology to solve criminal cases that were otherwise unsolvable. Despite its huge successes today, the process was met with some skepticism when it was first introduced in the courts. The DNA fingerprinting process is not perfect because no one can establish with 100% accuracy that a single cell comes from one person. The probability though is very high which is why this type of evidence is now commonly accepted in criminal courts.



The process of DNA fingerprinting is based on the fact that no two persons have the same DNA. Everybody has different genetic codes and DNA profiling analyzes only a small fraction of a person’s DNA. Statistical models are then used in order to prove a match between two DNA samples.



The DNA fingerprinting profiling process was first used to establish paternal relationships. The first time that it was used to secure a conviction in a criminal case was in 1987. Tommy Lee Andrews was tried and convicted of rape on 6 November 1987 by using DNA profiling as evidence. This led to the process being widely used in other criminal cases such as murder, battery assault and other violent crimes.



Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism, or RFLP, is the most accurate method of DNA fingerprinting. This method requires extraction of small amounts of body tissue or fluids. Even bloodstains are enough for this method to be effective. RFLP is very expensive DNA profiling method. Each sample can cost thousands of dollars and it will take several weeks to complete.



DNA fingerprinting profiling has been widely used in criminal forensics because it can provide evidence other than fingerprints. Every cell of the human body can be used to identify a person’s DNA. A strand of a person’s hair, a drop of blood or even a tiny skin follicle is enough for the process to be accurate. Establishing a person’s innocence or guilt was once virtually impossible in the absence of fingerprints or other material evidence. Thanks to the DNA fingerprinting technology, thousands of criminal and missing person cases have been solved worldwide.

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