DNA Fingerprinting: The Key to Solving a Crime

Criminal cases are won based on the strength of the evidence presented in court. That is why prosecution lawyers try really hard to get the strongest evidence to prove the guilt beyond reasonable doubt of a defendant. If you are a big fan of shows where crime laboratories are the star, like NCIS and CSI, you are quite familiar with DNA fingerprinting.

In proving guilt beyond reasonable doubt, or in the case of defense lawyers, innocence beyond reasonable doubt, both groups should be able to present substantial evidence to prove their claim. To help both parties, a special group of experts is tapped to analyze the specimen and is tasked to prove the authenticity of the evidence provided. The expert that lawyers from both sides relies on someone who is capable of performing accurate DNA profiling; they are also known as fingerprinting Forensic Expert.

Records show that Forensic Experts who performed DNA fingerprinting are able to identify about 0.1% difference between human DNA thus enabling them to determine whether the material found at a crime scene matches those of the accused. DNA tests have been proven to be almost 99% accurate that it has been used to resolve past crimes and have freed a lot of innocent people.

DNA profiling starts with the process of collecting DNA samples from a crime scene – samples include hair and skin cells. DNA will be extracted from the samples collected utilizing different enzymes that will aid in identifying the different DNA patterns. Then the DNA will undergo a process called electrophoresis wherein the DNA will be processed through a gel that will separate the patterns. The separated fragments will then be compared with the other samples to establish a match.

This process of DNA profiling is considered to accurately identify the DNA material that was collected from the crime scene. However, if there was foul play, like the DNA material was planted or staged, there is no way that DNA profiling would be able to establish that, reason why authorities do not rely completely on this process.

The fact, however, remains that DNA fingerprinting or profiling used in establishing the veracity of the evidence presented by both the prosecutors and defense are highly credible.

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