DNA Informational Essay

Submitted By nicolestein13
Words: 407
Pages: 2

DNA Informational Essay

The purpose of the articles, “DNA Testing” and “The Evolution of Criminal Investigation and Forensic Science” is to explain a number of ways DNA is used to solve crimes. For example, “Since the advent of DNA Testing in 1985, biological material (skin, hair, blood,and other bodily fluids) has emerged as the most reliable physical evidence at a crime scene, particularly those involving sexual assaults.” DNA has been used many times to convict criminals. First, one of the ways DNA has been used is to prove people guilty and others innocent. Many people who have been accused as guilty for crimes have been proven innocent and released due to DNA Testing. To illustrate, “Some 240 convictions have been overturned in 33 states and the District of Columbia, according to the Innocence Project, a non-profit advocacy group that works to free the wrongly convicted. Seventeen people have been released from death row after DNA evidence released them.” (pg 2, DNA Testing) This is important because innocent people should not be getting punished for something they didn’t do. Also, the actual criminal would still be out there committing crime. Second, DNA is used to crack cases. DNA contains the complex genetic blueprint that distinguishes each person. For example, “Standard forensic tests comparing characteristics of the suspects blood with characteristics derives from the semen found on the victim suggested that only Andrews could have committed the crime.” This is important because without DNA Tests, how would you actually know if someone committed a crime? It