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DNA Evidence 'Easy to Fake'

By Jane Yager,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 18, 2009 4:57 AM CDT

(Newser) – Think DNA evidence is foolproof? In fact, it's so easy to fabricate that "any biology undergrad" could engineer a crime scene, claim scientists in Israel. Raising troubling implications for a legal system that treats DNA as a gold standard, the scientists have demonstrated that DNA samples are vulnerable to both intentional tampering and inadvertent forensic lab contamination, the New York Times reports.




The scientists' fabrication techniques could also enable "genetic paparazzi" to submit other people's DNA for genetic testing or commit "biological identity theft," according to Haaretz. The researchers behind the findings work for Nucleix, a Tel Aviv biotech startup that hopes to sell forensics labs a test to distinguish real DNA from faked samples.




Detecting DNA can also be used to solve property crimes.
Detecting DNA can also be used to solve property crimes.   (Photo: Business Wire)
Forensic Scientist Ngyuen Truong inspects a tray of samples for DNA testing before placing it in separator at the Veterinary Genetics Laboratory at the University of California Davis.
Forensic Scientist Ngyuen Truong inspects a tray of samples for DNA testing before placing it in separator at the Veterinary Genetics Laboratory at the University of California Davis.   (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
An assistant forensic scientist extracts DNA from crime scene samples.
An assistant forensic scientist extracts DNA from crime scene samples.   (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth/PA)
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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 2 comments
bewilderbeast
Nov 4, 2009 3:08 AM CST
An idiot? You think? The more I watch TV programs of "DNA convicting the perp", the more I'm convinced there are cops who will do ANYTHING to get a conviction. It's the easiest thing in the world to plant dope on someone, or to take DNA from him once he's in custody then plant it on the scene. VERY SADLY, I think it happens. The public demands a !shock! beginning; a tense middle; a neatly-tied-up ending. And the plot is thus delivered. And people are sentenced to prison or even to death.
Serenity
Aug 18, 2009 5:57 AM CDT
I would have to agree.

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