2. DNA technology applications in the
different forensic fields concerning science. (small section)
Physiological
sciences
*DNA
profiling
*DNA
phenotyping
*Forensic
dentistry
Three of the
main fields include DNA profiling, DNA phenotyping and forensic dentistry.
DNA profiling is the most used, and has been around the longest. It analyses and
compares the genomes of DNA samples from a crime scene (saliva, blood or semen)
and DNA of potential suspects. Matches between the two can be a huge factor in indicting
or exonerating suspects because of high levels of accuracy because of the
unique nature of genomes (cite http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3561883/).
DNA profiling compares short tandem repeats (STRs) within DNA as they vary
between individuals and are easy to measure.
DNA
phenotyping is in its early stages compared to DNA profiling and is affected by
ethical and legal issues (cite http://pifeed.com/post/first-dna-phenotyped-image-of-person-of-interest-in-double-homicide/).
DNA phenotyping is used when DNA profiling cannot be conducted because no
comparative sample is available. It predicts visual characteristics (phenotypes)
including hair colour, eye colour and ethnicity of suspects through analysis of
various DNA markers affected by single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs), (cite http://www.eurekaselect.com/128392/article)
in order to be used to narrow down a wide range of suspects. Development in DNA
sequencing technology has made it possible to efficiently read genetic material
from DNA.
Finally forensic
dentistry uses techniques used in both DNA profiling and DNA phenotyping but
focuses mainly on sex determination through extracted DNA from the pulp of the
teeth by the use of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) (cite http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4541412/).
It does this for the identification of human remains.
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