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Scientists Find Way To Combat Forged DNA

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the i'll-see-your-dna-evidence-and-raise-you-an-authenticator dept.

An anonymous reader writes to tell us that while scientists may have learned how to forge DNA, it appears that a group of Israeli scientists has created a DNA authentication method that is able to distinguish between real and faked DNA samples. "The new process was tested on natural and artificial samples of blood, saliva and touched surfaces, with complete success, Nucleix said. It also identifies 'contaminated' DNA that has been mixed with two or more samples."

2 of 45 comments (clear)

  1. Plausible denability? by vertinox · · Score: 4, Insightful

    So if I make fake DNA of myself and throw around a crime scene then I can use this method to prove I wasn't there?

    --
    "I am the king of the Romans, and am superior to rules of grammar!"
    -Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor (1368-1437)
    1. Re:Plausible denability? by Archangel+Michael · · Score: 4, Insightful

      No (And spanking the monkey is not "fake DNA")

      All it does is provide doubt to the evidence. One cannot prove a negative ("I wasn't there"), which is why we assume innocence, and guilt must be proved beyond REASONABLE doubt.

      To prove you "weren't there" you would have to have an alibi; evidence you were somewhere else.

      --
      Agent K: A *person* is smart. People are dumb, stupid, panicky animals, and you know it.