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purplecthulhu at 10:24am on 18/08/2009
purplecthulhu at 10:24am on 18/08/2009The NYT is reporting the demonstration that DNA fingerprinting evidence can now be faked. A small sample of someone's DNA can be amplified and used to fake a crime scene. Worse still, a DNA profile alone can also be used to produce fake DNA evidence.
“Any biology undergraduate could perform this.”*
What use the Home Office DNA database now?
* Of course the people doing this are trying to sell something - a service to spot fake DNA evidence. But how long before their way to test for a fake is also defeated?
“Any biology undergraduate could perform this.”*
What use the Home Office DNA database now?
* Of course the people doing this are trying to sell something - a service to spot fake DNA evidence. But how long before their way to test for a fake is also defeated?
(no subject)
Regarding faking samples from the database, the best way to use it IMO is to have the profiles (but not the DNA) stored, and use it as a mechanism for identifying possible subjects, but use independent tests (and there's no shortage of possible variations to analyse), whose results should not be stored on the database. Assuming the second test were changed (ie updated) regularly, and either confidential or chosen randomly from a panel of tests, there's no way it could be faked.
So we conclude that a scientist could place fake DNA at the scene of a crime (a lot easier if you can get hairs or similar directly from the person you're framing, and anyone can do that), or submit fake samples for DNA testing. Not sure I regard that as a major issue. And it would be very easy to circumvent the second strategy (I believe secondary database-independent testing should be done already, but I've no idea whether it is).
(no subject)
Sterile lab techniques aren't difficult - even if undergraduates don't seem to be able to manage them reliably.
and for a few thousand pounds ...
your very own ebay pcr
by the time they've sorted it all out and figure you are innocent, I expect you've spent a fair bit of time away, as well as the stress. Personally, I'd not like to run the risk.
(no subject)
I feel that the Scottish system for confessions should be applied to DNA evidence as well - a confession is only accepted if corroborated by other evidence. The English legal system, and the Home Office have always resisted this.