DNA Testing in the 21st Century

One of the most exciting fields of study for technological advances has been DNA testing. DNA technology has come along way and we have seen it being used on many popular television dramas such as Law & Order, 24, CSI, and many others. Using DNA evidence has become one of the most effective tools for solving crime scenes and punishing the truly guilty. In fact DNA testing can even be used to clear up old crimes committed many years ago! One such case happened to a man who had spent 21 years in jail but was released recently after a DNA trial in which his DNA was not found to match that left at the crime scene. Many other cases similar to this one have also used DNA technology to solve crime.

There is also one technique currently being developed that may boost crime solving statistics tremendously. This technique will also help solve crimes that have been committed many years ago. For example, sometimes DNA from many different people found on one object used to commit the crime may be mixed together and be nearly impossible to tell who committed the actual crime, but a new computer program has been developed which can distinguish each set of DNA and match it to specific people. Therefore, it has become much easier and faster for investigations to be solved. Many crimes have gone unsolved because of the problem that used to exist with matching the correct DNA to the correct person. However with this advance in DNA technology, many old crimes still being investigated will be able to be solved. So if you are one who has committed such a crime and got away with it, don’t get too comfortable, one simple DNA trial will unveil crimes committed many years ago. Results are so accurate that they cannot be refuted in a court of law. Not only will the real person responsible for the crime be punished, but perhaps as in the case above, many innocent people will be freed and be able to live their normal life again thanks to DNA technology.

There are many more applications of DNA research, even those for the most common person. Using human DNA one can even get in touch with his or her roots. I’m sure we have all heard stories of where we “think” our ancestors come from, but if you ever wanted to be completely sure, there is an inexpensive, fast and easy way to find out. Many commercial DNA testing laboratories even have at home kits which you can use to find out this information. Most only require that you take a cheek swab sample, send it in and they will do all the DNA research required to find out your ancestry. They are able to track where your ancestors have lived, where they moved, and what traits and characteristics made them different from others. One woman, who has made a number of trips to Ghana, recently found out that she has roots there by using a home DNA testing kit. She always had felt an impulse to visit the country and even went there on her honey moon, but only recently found out that some of her ancestors are from Ghana. This information brought her much comfort in knowing where she her family came from and to get in touch with her roots. DNA technology therefore can also become a great tool for genealogical work and may be used more and more as people become aware of the many different things they can do using DNA research.

Jason Luke is a Client Account Specialist for 10X Marketing. Go now to GeneTree to find out more on the advances of DNA technology and its applications in today’s world.