Basics of DNA & Evidentiary Issues

by Krishan Vij, Rajesh Biswas

Identification through DNA technology has dramatically changed the scenario, especially in sexual offences, as the previous problems of blood-group and enzyme-typing caused by the admixture of semen and vaginal secretion can now be solved in many instances. Each of the 100 trillion or more cells in a human being is a living structure that can survive indefinitely, and, in most instances, can even reproduce itself. And each nucleated cell, whether it is from the skin, muscle, hair, bone, buccal epithelium or from body-fluid; is enriched with DNA. This book is intended to carry basic aspects of DNA, right from its structure, collection, preservation and dispatch of the samples; to the problems concerned with admissibility of evidence. A layperson can gain insight into the various elementary concepts of the process and the related evidentiary issues. Sketches, line-drawings, simple flow-charts and tables are given at appropriate places rendering easy understanding. This book, apart from serving as a ‘Vade-mecum’ for the science students, goes a long way in helping the medical personnel, investigative agencies and above all, the judiciary.

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