Essay on Americas Crime Fighters Need DNA Fingerprinting

Americas Crime Fighters Need DNA Fingerprinting Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a chemical structure containing a base sequence. Base pairs are genetic codes made up of four chemicals (Adenine, Guanine, Cytosine and Thymine) and each sequence differs in every person. Because DNA is so complex and varies immensely in individuals, it can be used like a fingerprint, hence the name DNA Fingerprinting. DNA can be found and analyzed in blood, semen, saliva, hair and skin--even decades old if properly stored. The process takes longer than simple fingerprinting and is very expensive, but the results are almost perfect in determining identity. While these tests are very accurate, there is a 1 in 50 billion chance that two people†¦show more content†¦Department of Justice. Today DNA testing is used regularly to convict criminals as fingerprints have in the past. The Department of Justice states that in 1998, the FBI created the National DNA Index System (NDIS), which currently links 42 states. Today there are genetic profile s for more than one million criminals stored in this database, and soon all 50 states are expected to participate in the NDIS. That is a great example of an effective use of DNA Fingerprinting and security. Previously used only in research labs, DNA fingerprinting has become more common to the public. Although mostly used for paternity testing, DNA profiling is reliable enough as evidence that prosecutors are relying on it more and more to help convict suspects in criminal cases. One specific example occurred in Goldsboro, North Carolina. A man known as the â€Å"Night Stalker† had committed offenses of rape in 1990 to three elderly women. Each incident resulted in an attempt to murder the victim; however, only two lost their lives along with one husband. One woman was fortunately saved by the unusually early arrival of her daughter. The suspect planned to burn the residence to hide the crime, but panicked and ran, leaving behind substantial evidence. A matching pap smear was taken from each victim to cross reference DNA samples, but no suspect was known. This is where the NDIS came into effect, adding a profile to North Carolina’s database. After 10 years of