DNA tests are considered the most credible evidence in the field of criminology. But this reliability has been hampered by recent experiments by Israeli scientists who have provided practical evidence that DNA can be tampered. The scientists demonstrated the experiment by taking blood and saliva of a different person other than the actual donor. They also proved that if any person’s DNA profile is obtained from a data base, an artificial sample matching to that person can be manufactured. “You can just engineer a crime scene,” said Dan Frumkin who has written the research paper in the journal “Forensic Science International”. He is of the view that even an undergraduate with some good knowledge of biology can do this. Dr. Frumkin is the chief organizer of Nucleix which is a genetics company and has invented a test to sort out real DNA from the fake ones. The test can be offered for sale to forensic labs. The “installation” of fake DNA evidence at the place of crime is only one issue. There are other consequences of the fake samples. This may lead to intrusion in to privacy of person as well. Anyone who knows the technique to fabricate DNA samples by having an access of the original DNA profile can further use that fabricated information to blackmail celebrities or it may lead to “genetic paparazzi”. It is not very difficult to have actual DNA sample of a celebrity form his cup of tea or cigarette remains. The genetic company may reveal his ancestry or any potential diseases just by the small sample of saliva remains on cigarette butts.
Fabricated DNA
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