DNA Phenotyping

The genesis of DNA biology has been a fundamental point in advancing the knowledge of living beings and their functioning. DNA is the blueprint of life and determines the functional and physical traits of an individual. In recent times, DNA has emerged as an indispensable part of research and applications around the world. Scholars around the world have used the knowledge from DNA to solve mysteries of evolution, heredity, health, and identity. DNA research has found an important role in the field of human identification. DNA-based identification is based on the fact that each individual has about 0.01% of DNA unique to them which can be analysed for identification purposes. The major benefit of DNA-based identification has been to the field of forensic science. Forensic Science employs a range of scientific theories and techniques in the aid of justice. DNA fingerprinting found an important and indispensable role in the field of forensic science (Gill et al. 1985). The role of DNA analysis in the advancement of the criminal justice system is commendable with its applications aiding in faster and more accurate interpretation of evidence, identification and prosecution of criminals in legal cases, and helping resolve disputed paternity cases. DNA-based techniques are used in many aspects of forensic investigation, the science began with incorporating the technique of DNA fingerprinting by Sir Alec Jeffrey for individual identification and later expanded to paternity determination and ancestry determination and in recent research involving tissue identification and DNA-based phenotyping.