DNA technology has provided law enforcement officers and investigators with a way to solve many crimes that would have previously been unsolvable. DNA technology has improved the way we solve crimes. Without DNA evidence in thousands of cases, the perpetrator would still be free, and innocent men would still be locked away. DNA technology has made solving crimes much more infallible and efficient. .
DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the fundamental building block of an individual's genetic makeup. (Portugal 11) DNA is found almost everywhere, in every cell of the entire human body. (Kluger et al.) DNA is also the same in every different type of cell in the human body. It doesn't matter what type of cell you look at, the DNA will be the same. DNA is similar to fingerprint analysis because every person's DNA is different. When DNA is found at a crime scene it is compared to DNA that is already on file to determine if it is a match, much like if it were a fingerprint. (What Every Law) There are already over 150,000 genetic profiles of convicted offenders as well as samples from the scenes of over 8,000 unsolved crimes. (Beiser) DNA found at the crime scene can link a person to the crime, or it can eliminate a suspect, which can be equally important. DNA evidence from one crime scene can be compared to evidence from another and the same perpetrator linked to crimes locally, or across the Nation. (What Every Law) DNA can be collected off of evidence that is decades old, and it will still have retained its forensic value, unlike fingerprints that lose their value over time. (What Every Law).
DNA evidence can be collected from almost anywhere. It is very hard for someone to commit a crime and not leave any DNA evidence behind, especially if the crime involves a physical altercation of any kind. DNA evidence has been taken off of bite marks, cigarette butts, ski masks, toothpicks and postage stamps.
