DNAprint Genomics (DNAG)

[stakddek]

CODIS CAUTION

In thinking about the CODIS backlog, it's important to keep in mind garbage in garbage out. The samples have been collected in the field and are not in all cases, pristine. Granted a rape kit will have been collected under the best circumstances for collection, but crime scene DNA samples are often "limited" and usually have a very high potential for contamination. Unless the source of the specimen under study is assured, you better hope your favorite manicurist disposed of those nail clippings appropriately! Okay so that's not a worry yet, but the source of the DNA used for a "DNAfingerprint" is critical. When we start talking about using smaller and smaller samples, the source becomes more and more critical as to it's pedigree. I can't estimate the portion of the CODIS database that fulfills the certainty of sample requirement, but I fear that unless the "pedigree" is certain, law enforcement will be reluctant to use the tool as a general investigative device. This is not such a bad thing though. I seem to recall some consternation during the OJ trial about how evidence had been collected and transported. I think the defense was implying something quite more than sloppy forensics, but that idea came across as well. DNAP would not want to be on the recieving end of the criticism the profilers recieved after LA. If it's GIGO we might well be.

Stakddek