Forensic Genetics Research Paper

Improved Essays
Forensic Genetics
To understand what Forensic Genetics is you first have to know what each term means. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary (2015) states that Forensics is the application of scientific knowledge and/or methods to legal problems and in solving crimes. Forensics is used in many different ways, from identify people through DNA or fingerprints to examining hair and different substances. It has been around for a long time, with some methods dating back to the 13th century (Kennedy 2013). Forensics is an on going field that keeps expanding more and more with the updates in technology. Webster also states that Genetics is the scientific study of how genes control the characteristics of plants and animals. A career using both Forensics and Genetics is a Forensic Geneticist. They are a type of scientist that analyzes blood, fluids, and tissue samples to extract DNA. Forensic geneticists are used to solve crimes, and they do so using by using a technique called
…show more content…
Current molecular biology is being done by analyzing damaged DNA and by applying RNA techniques to forensics. Research is now being done with establishing useful markers on the Y chromosome. These markers on the Y chromosome would be especially helpful in sexual assault cases. A very intersting part of all the new Y chromosome research is over work showing that in some cases, Y chromosomal profiles CODIS as of right now does not contain any Y profiles, but this begins to bring up genetic privacy. When it comes to genetic privacy national DNA databases like CODIS arouse controversy. Not all national data bases have the same laws and regulations as us but in the United States, STR profiles were originally collected only from convicted sex offenders, but the data base has been expanding significantly. Now some states collect profiles of every arrested

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    A forensic scientist is the who someone who investigates crimes. He/she gathers and investigates information at the crime scene such as physical evidence from the scene. The evidence he/she gathers can range from fingerprints, footprints, hair, blood, splatter, tire tracks, fibers, chemicals, handwriting, drugs, DNA, and broken or bent objects. In this paper I will inform you on what you need to do to study and become a forensic scientist, costs to study it, where/how you can get employed, if you can work independently or not, job descriptions in detail,why biology is important in this career, salaries, needs for the career, and where is this career popular. Colleges that offer criminal justice, law enforcement, corrections and homeland security are all good for forensic studies.…

    • 849 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Is this a new opportunity for identity theft? Is it ethical to have a database containing the general public's DNA? The Federal Bureau of Investigations claims that by creating and expanding a national DNA database reflects in lower crime rates across the country. On the other hand, a majority of individuals agrees that there should be regulations that structure a software containing a DNA database (Ross). Much like any field of technology ethical concerns continuously create opportunities to improve software in the medical field.…

    • 1275 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Finding justice can be hard at times when you can't really seem to find out who did it or why they have done it. Most likely the person will not confess to their crimes. In the passage "Forensic: Evidence, Clues, and Investigation" written by Andrea Campbell, it shows that forensic evidence is one of the most reliable evidences in the court of justice today. These evidences have been practiced for hundreds of years and it is still going strong as of today. The question is, what exactly is forensic science?…

    • 432 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The advancement of forensic science has progressed immensely since its conception. The contributions it has made for the legal system are immense. One such example are its techniques used to extract DNA during forensic cases. DNA is considered to be one of the most well regarded and highly assessed sources of information (Gershaw et al., 2010). Another important development used during investigations is CODIS or the Combined DNA Index System.…

    • 1040 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Gary Dotson Case Study

    • 460 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Despite all of the good that using science in criminal investigation has done. Like all things there have been some hiccups. DNA testing has both enhanced and eroded the status of forensic science in criminal cases. Conventional forensic disciplines were unable to identify a perpetrator with any true discrimination. For instance, conventional serology (the study antigen or antibodies) field analysis of blood group substances was largely used in sexual assault cases during the 1980s (Mosby's Medical Dictionary 8th edition, 2009).…

    • 460 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    The term "forensic" means "in open court"(vocabulary.com). Forensics is a broad array of sciences used for both legal and criminal purposes. Help to solve crimes using analysis of physical evidence compared with evidence with suspects. A Forensic science technician or also known as, forensic scientist, crime scene investigator, or Criminalist, is responsible for collecting, analyzing, and preserving physical evidence to aid in investigations. The contributions they make to today's world can seem in many ways unnoticed, but they are a crucial part of any functional judicial system or society.…

    • 1469 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Dna Crime Lab

    • 117 Words
    • 1 Pages

    DNA is use to solve crimes. Scientist cheats a DNA fingerprint after analysis. Fingerprints are use to help fined the person of who DNA it is. Analysis look at the DNA to fine who fingerprints it is. Crime lab’s look at DNA to help solve crimes.…

    • 117 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    DNA analysis, also known as DNA profiling, testing, typing, is a process that takes genetic material and evaluates it so that it can identify individuals in a criminal investigation or in use of a forensic application. The beginning step of the performance of DNA analysis on a reference sample or person is the collection of DNA from cells. These cells can come from a blood sample or even swabbing the inside of an individual’s cheek. After it is collected, the samples are then sent to a lab for the further steps of DNA analysis. There are different methods that can be used to analyze this DNA.…

    • 611 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Forensic DNA Analyst

    • 316 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Forensic DNA Analyst Education/Training Required A forensic DNA analyst must at least have a four year degree in biology, chemistry, genetics, molecular genetics, molecular biology, forensic science, physics, criminalistics, and biochemistry. Undergraduates require a bachelor of science in biology, science in biological science, science in forensic science, and a bachelor in molecular biology. You can get these types of education in community colleges (2-4 year colleges), but you would need to be at college for four years to actually get accepted for the job. You also need basic skills such as communication, working well with others, having creativity, and using the court of law.…

    • 316 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The practice of taking DNA samples from convicted criminals is now largely…

    • 269 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The National Institute of Justice’s article “Extending Time to Collect DNA in Sexual Assault Cases” explains the usage of DNA profiling in identifying a suspect in a sexual assault case, but the current standard DNA profiling methods have different shortcomings. DNA profiles often require the use of short sequences that repeat a number of times, called short tandem repeats (STRs). With the current DNA profiling method, many jurisdictions require the samples to be collected within three days of the sexual assault. This is due to the protocol of various jurisdictions. However, recent research suggests that a viable analysis is still possible after 5-6 days after the incident.…

    • 471 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    DNA In Forensics

    • 913 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Based on the existence of biological evidence, DNA tests is vital in ensuring that the criminal justice system is fair and accurate (justice.gov, 2014). DNA in Forensics can be used to identify criminals in cases where the suspect is known and also in cases where the suspect is not known. For example, DNA sample from a suspect who has been arrested can be directly compared with DNA sample from the crime scene; on the other hand, DNA samples from the crime scene can be matched with DNA samples archived from other crime sense and already prosecuted cases. Although the DNA collection and analysis system needs great improvement, the system has been used successfully used to prevent the most heinous and violent crimes form taking place and has also helped convict most dangerous criminals involved in a series of different crimes (justice.gov, 2014). In cases of aggravated assaults, the use of DNA in forensics has helped provide evidence for most cases that had no witness available.…

    • 913 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Many convicts are not entered in the DNA database or are not able to be held in the database system. Some criminal's DNA may not be in the DNA database to match them to crimes with ("Hard time for the innocent" 3). This evidence suggests that the database could help in solving crimes if it was…

    • 770 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Over the course of years Forensic Anthropology and Biology has coincided with the criminal court system, and has had the ability to help face dangerous individuals with justice and to find these individuals guilty. Forensic Biology is defined as the application of science where the process of identifying badly decomposed, skeletal, or that of unidentified human remains is done. Forensic Anthropology is defined as the application of science that involves the physical anthropology to the criminal or legal process. When working to solve a case, a forensic anthropologist is looking for a numerous amount of characteristics, such as to find the race, sex, ancestry, stature and unique features of the decedent. These characteristics help in the role…

    • 1923 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Forensic DNA is the process of using and collecting DNA from crime scenes to solve criminal investigations and to ensure accuracy and fairness in the Criminal Justice System. DNA profiling has grown significantly in the past years and has been extremely useful in identifying suspects, criminals and other people involved in the crime. If the suspect is unidentifiable, DNA evidence is compared to a DNA database to identify the criminal. DNA testing has both advantages and disadvantages many of which relate to ethical, emotional, economic and practicality issues. Research states that an increasing number of criminal investigations have used DNA testing to successfully identify the perpetrator.…

    • 1264 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays