A Mistaken DNA Identification? What Does It Mean? .
Changes to Ensure the Validity of DNA Testing.
DNA evidence in the courtroom is obviously becoming a more dependable tactic to serve justice to the unjust. However, the use of DNA testing to determine the culpability of a criminal is not very viable evidence in the courtroom, because of the deliberate manipulation of DNA test results, the possibility of human error, and even just random chance. Also, DNA evidence is not viable because of the quality and methodology of the laboratory work done by scientists, including the lab's error rate, and also the statistical interpretation of the data. There are thousands of cases that DNA evidence has been used to free the innocent, but there some cases that there has been an error in the analysis of the DNA and the wrong person might be punished for a crime he or she did not commit.
The Drawback of DNA Evidence.
DNA has two important functions: directing protein synthesis and serving, as a genetic blueprint during cell replication (Sherwood, 1997, p.17). In layman's terms, the DNA in our cells determines our inherited characteristics such as eye color, hair color, blood type, and so on (Martini, 1998, p.57). Everyone assumes that no two individual's DNA is exactly the same. And that statement alone is why it is so widely used as evidence to identify individuals in the courtroom. However, there is a drawback, which experts often neglect to recognize.
Evidence is any statement or material object from which reasonable conclusions can be drawn. It is a broad category embracing anything perceptible to the five senses including documents, exhibits, facts agreed to by both sides, and the testimony of witnesses. Evidence in a criminal trial concerns the intent, motive, means, and opportunity to commit a crime (Coleman 2000). There are only three ways to solve a crime. The person who committed the crime can confess; the victim or witnesses can identify the person who committed the crime; or information can be obtained through physical evidence that links a specific person to the crime or to the victim.