The Growing Role of Genetic Professionals in Forensic DNA

Abstract

Through the last decade there was an enormous revolution in the field of forensic genetic.

The Author reviews some of the methodologies used in the definitions of DNA profiling tackling the principles of recombinant DNA techniques. The potentiality of polymorphic DNA fragments in vertebrates is focused as well as the revolution implied in forensic medicine. The resource to DNA-DNA hybridization combined to oligonucleotide probes is emphasized leading to the production of an individual bar code with the resource of genomic polymorphism which leads to a pattern known as genetic fingerprinting. Other techniques for individual identification and paternity testing are focused as well as the use of short tandem repeats (STR's). Mitochondrial DNA sequencing use to complement nuclear DNA typing may also be profitable in certain instances. Relevant problems within the context of the use of these techniques in forensic medicine and law suits are discussed. Final considerations viewing the resource to DNA technology within the scope of the last two decades are referred regarding the resource to DNA profiles not only in the US but in Europe in general and in Portugal in special having lead to compensation and uncover of justice errors.