Latest Dna Technology Is On The Trail Of Suspects
Polymerase chain reaction/standard tandem repeats (PCR/STR), the latest DNA technology helping law enforcement officers solve crimes, requires less DNA and is more effective and reliable than previous DNA technology. In fact, the tiniest piece of DNA is easily copied so that numerous testing can be conducted without destroying the original sample.
Matching a DNA sample is also easier with PCR/STR, because DNA matches one in 18 quadrillion rather than one in 20 using the old DNA methodology.
DNA information collected by law enforcement officers is submitted to the FBI DNA database in order to aide in the solving of more crimes throughout the United States.
Although PCR/STR speeds up processing time of DNA, it also allows for hundreds or even thousands more DNA samples than previously collected from a crime scene using the old technology, and all samples require testing and analysis.
Abstracted by the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center(NLECTC) from the Kansas City Star (04/20/04) P. A6; Adler, Eric .