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DNA for Law Enforcement
DNA is described as the "blueprint of life" because every normal nucleated cell in an individual's body is identical, like a blueprint for a manufactured item. The body creates, or "manufactures," cells based on a single blueprint.
DNA double-helix with half from mother and half from father.
Basic DNA facts that all law enforcement personnel should understand are listed below:
- DNA is inherited; we receive half from each parent
- Identical twins have the same DNA profile
- An individual's DNA profile stays the same for their entire life
- An individual's DNA profile is the same in every nucleated cell
- DNA is most stable in cool, dry conditions
To make sound investigative, evidence collection and prioritization decisions, team members including first responders, investigators and medical personnel should have a basic understanding of DNA and how DNA evidence is analyzed. 9,10
9 Illinois State Police Crime Scene Investigator Training »
10 Bureau of Justice Assistance Law Enforcement Training Database »
Additional Online Courses
- What Every First Responding Officer Should Know About DNA Evidence
- Collecting DNA Evidence at Property Crime Scenes
- DNA – A Prosecutor’s Practice Notebook
- Crime Scene and DNA Basics
- Laboratory Safety Programs
- DNA Amplification
- Population Genetics and Statistics
- Non-STR DNA Markers: SNPs, Y-STRs, LCN and mtDNA
- Firearms Examiner Training
- Forensic DNA Education for Law Enforcement Decisionmakers
- What Every Investigator and Evidence Technician Should Know About DNA Evidence
- Principles of Forensic DNA for Officers of the Court
- Law 101: Legal Guide for the Forensic Expert
- Laboratory Orientation and Testing of Body Fluids and Tissues
- DNA Extraction and Quantitation
- STR Data Analysis and Interpretation
- Communication Skills, Report Writing, and Courtroom Testimony
- Español for Law Enforcement
- Amplified DNA Product Separation for Forensic Analysts