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Scientists Learn To Fabricate DNA Evidence
Hugh Pickens writes "The NY Times reports that it is possible to fabricate blood and saliva samples containing DNA from a person other than the donor, and even to construct a sample of DNA to match someone's profile without obtaining any tissue from that person — if you have access to their DNA profile in a database. This undermines the credibility of what has been considered the gold standard of proof in criminal cases. 'You can just engineer a crime scene,' said Dan Frumkin, lead author of the paper. 'Any biology undergraduate could perform this.' The scientists fabricated DNA samples in two ways. One requires a real, if tiny, DNA sample, perhaps from a strand of hair or a drinking cup. They amplified the tiny sample into a large quantity of DNA using a standard technique called whole genome amplification. The other technique relies on DNA profiles, stored in law enforcement databases as a series of numbers and letters corresponding to variations at 13 spots in a person's genome. The scientists cloned tiny DNA snippets representing the common variants at each spot, creating a library of such snippets. To prepare a phony DNA sample matching any profile, they just mixed the proper snippets together. Tania Simoncelli, science adviser to the American Civil Liberties Union, says the findings were worrisome. 'DNA is a lot easier to plant at a crime scene than fingerprints,' says Simoncelli. 'We're creating a criminal justice system that is increasingly relying on this technology.'"
Careful with that, you might leave an incriminating DNA sample.
they have to rewrite next season of CSI because of this
Really? It's that easy? God, I'm an idiot. After I cloned the tiny snippets of the common variants, creating my library, I just sat there staring at them and thinking "What the hell do I do now?"
This doesn't change much, it's still much easier for "them" to frame you by drugging you and leaving you at the scene of a murder, then anonymously tipping the authorities off. Just like they did to OJ to try to prevent another "Naked Gun" from being made.
("They" may be completely evil, but you can't fault their sense of humor.)
in yo momma!
Oh dear. I can just imagine it on Craigslist:
NEW PACKAGE for 2009! Contract hit + framing of your choice! Just $15,000!
You go through all the trouble of collecting their DNA samples and then arrest them based on their domain lookups? seems a bit convoluted
In order to 'engineer' a crime scene, to incriminate somebody by planting fake DNA, the first thing I need it a real, if tiny, DNA sample, perhaps from a strand of hair or a drinking cup. Then I use that to fake some DNA, which I place at the scene.
So can somebody tell my WTF, if I already have some legitimate DNA from the person I'm attempting to frame, I wouldn't just place that at the crime scene instead?
It helps to have the right sort of DNA. Say you want to frame someone for robbery, and you have their semen -- I guess you could argue that they are obsessive chronic masturbators and that's why their semen is all over the crime scene -- but otherwise, it would arguably raise less suspicion to find other sources of DNA.
GAAH! MY PRINTER IS ON FIRE!!! PUT IT OUT! PUT IT OUT!
Alibi for perfect crime: get a job in cotton bud factory.
Extreme Programming - Redundant Array of Inexpensive Developers
Back when I was in 2nd grade, I think it was, the police had a 'fingerprint day' at the elementary school. They brought in a 5 print card and offered to fingerprint every child 'just in case'. I asked my parents about it a few years back, they said the only reason they signed any form was that they got to keep the card, not the police. I think the police did offer to store all of the cards, again, 'just in case'. I mean, "what would happen if your child was kidnapped from the house and the kidnapper set fire to the house to get rid of the fingerprint card? I mean, think of the children!"
I've always wondered what if you answer no you don't understand? Do they have to keep trying to explain them?
but we can't make a passable artificial vagina for under $100?
Sometimes a sham is better than the real thing. Consider:
Which would you rather be hit in the head with, a shamrock or a real rock?
Which would you rather rub in your hair, shampoo or real poo?
Which would you rather feel, champaigne or real pain?
In this case, the real deal is far cheaper than the sham. You can get a skinny hooker for $20. What's the difference between a crack dealer and a prostitute? The prostitute can wash her crack and resell it!
Clicking "no karma bonus" and "no subscriber bonus" because my comment is as offtopic as yours. Mine might at least be funny. Nice try, though.
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