OT: Sort of. Sort of Not.
Halloween, 2003
Utilization Of Analysis to Minimize Repeat (Serial ) Unidentified Individuals
With the science at hand, the growing National Database of Offenders being used by 48 states, and the political awareness of voter interest, the time is at hand for full implementation of these resources. Beyond the application for the notorious cases, the everyday or mundane usefulness of the technology must come into play to improve the cost benefit ratio of the system. Using the identification cabability promised by DNA through CODIS it has been possible to sort available DNA evidence and compare to known samples collected from likely sources. This approach with "cold cases" has moved some open cases to the closed files. Many cases though are still open. These have a DNA sample, but have provided no match with the existing Codis database. The technology exists to provide a physical profile from this material. The probitive value will vary, but where analysis of samples shows the liklihood of one subject with a connection to multiple crimes, then a thorough evaluation and "genetic profile" fpr that "John Doe" perpetrator should be undertaken. It is in the hope that this technology can protect society from the continued behavior of the subject and do so without intrusive interviews and embarrassment to individuals who are under customary suspicion by the nature of thier "fit" to a statistical profile. This DNA database will if it is allowed to grow, provide a positive and undeniable witness to ones' true identity. By incorporating all individuals in the database, the portion that is CODIS will have the expanded data to review for an identification. Not only will this expanded CODIS data allow intervention with known criminals, but active criminals who have not been processed into CODIS (not been apprehended previously) will have a searchable DNA profile available for matching. This of course requires a DNA database consisting of all available samples. It would come to pass that in a few years a person who was not in the national ID database would become a subject of interest in any investigation that did not have a match in the National ID system.
This use of DNA as a national ID system has great merit but is fraught with danger of abusive behavior by parties who would seek to benefit from knowledge of a genetic predisposition. It will be difficult to balance in the future, but can you imagine a salesman bribing an official to get the names of the consumers genetically disposed toward mail phone or door to door sales pitches. Subcategorized to morning or evening susceptability for persuasion?
I am not making light of the consumer fear of insurers wishing to know which applicant is likely to develop which disease. It's just that the information that can be developed is so much more than we can currently comprehend. Will people volunteer to DNA Date-Match or sign up for a Wunderkind project? Will Geraldo and Jerry Springer type shows develop? Will "It's your Life" become "It's your DNA"? Will "Survivor -- Bad DNA" be a hit where we vote on who we think is the healthiest and watch with glee as the projected genetic longevity is disclosed to the participants live on camera?
Oh there are a lot of problems with the depth of the information our DNA contains. It can be a force for good, or bad it's just how we use it. Should the FDA have all our profiles available to warn us of bad drug choices before our doctor misprescribes the latest wonder drug that is great for 98% of the populace? Should the motorvehicle bureau be allowed to print a DNA identitag on our license in bar code? Should every hospital emergency room have dna capability and full database access in case of disaster? As in a Plane or Ferry crash with multiple unidentified victims? Lot's of questions arise, and the answers will only come with time. The question that we do have to answer now is will we walk into the wonderland that science can provide with our eyes wide open and unafraid, or do we resist the changes kicking and screaming for fear of what the unscrupulous few will seek to subvert? Perhaps in looking into the televised faces of the relatives of the victims of serial criminals, we can set aside our personal fears of the Goblins of Halloweens to come, and be ready to take those first steps to that better tomorrow when the path is ready to be throd.
Stakddek
