Genetic uniqueness is something that stems from natural biological processes as from each generation there are characteristics that are inherited, assorted, reasserted, and combined between people under the bracket of one common denominator: deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) (US. Congress, Office of Technology Assessment, 1990). In many cases, criminals take the initiative to clean up the crime scenes, which involves fixing furniture, wiping the place for fingerprints or wearing gloves. Additionally, there are also attempts to remove larger stains of blood. Hence, the use of DNA as a tool for forensic investigation cannot be overstated as almost all the cells in the body are haploid, excluding gametes. Additionally, several types of biological material are useable in forensic science for DNA analysis and
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The technology has undergone significant transformations since its introduction in the 1980s. In this light, the section will outline the major technological evolution of forensic DNA profiling from its first application in the paternity case to the current standard methods. Historically, forensic DNA began with an analysis of the ABO blood group (Saad, 2005). At this time, blood was considered to be the most important biological material at a crime scene. However, advancements in the field led to the identification of other markers such as red blood cell enzymes and serum proteins (Jobling and Gill, 2004). This broadened the amount of information that can be attained from blood at crime scenes. Further developments led to use of human leukocyte antigen systems for identity testing. There was a long stagnant period in this field and approximately thirty-two years ago a geneticist at the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom, Sir Alec Jeffreys, laid the foundation for identity testing on the basis of genetics (Saad,
The technology has undergone significant transformations since its introduction in the 1980s. In this light, the section will outline the major technological evolution of forensic DNA profiling from its first application in the paternity case to the current standard methods. Historically, forensic DNA began with an analysis of the ABO blood group (Saad, 2005). At this time, blood was considered to be the most important biological material at a crime scene. However, advancements in the field led to the identification of other markers such as red blood cell enzymes and serum proteins (Jobling and Gill, 2004). This broadened the amount of information that can be attained from blood at crime scenes. Further developments led to use of human leukocyte antigen systems for identity testing. There was a long stagnant period in this field and approximately thirty-two years ago a geneticist at the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom, Sir Alec Jeffreys, laid the foundation for identity testing on the basis of genetics (Saad,