INVESTIGADORES
SALA Adriana Andrea
artículos
Título:
Are DNA tests infallible?
Autor/es:
G. PENACINO *, A. SALA, D. CORACH
Revista:
INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS SERIES
Editorial:
ELSEVIER
Referencias:
Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2003 vol. 1239 p. 873 - 877
ISSN:
0531-5131
Resumen:
Modern technology has strongly influenced most fields of knowledge and forensic sciences do
not escape this reality. With the advent of the application of molecular biology to human
identification by means of DNA typing, conceptual conflicts were introduced. After over 15 years of
worldwide experience, the robustness and reliability of DNA analysis was demonstrated. However in
Latin America, judges, prosecutors and defenders, due in part to different educational background as
compared to scientists, may ignore potential restrictions concerning DNA profiling results. Since its
beginnings, DNA testing was surrounded by an aura of infallibility. Nowadays, a big number of
highly polymorphic genetic markers, included in commercial kits, as well as automated devices for
DNA extraction and purification, PCR amplification, electrophoresis and data analysis are available.
Nevertheless, errors may occur. This work describes the main causes for errors in DNA testing in
forensic laboratories that simultaneously processes hundreds or thousands of samples a month and
makes suggestions to prevent each particular problem. It is important to underscore that DNA testing
should be considered one more piece of evidence within the context of a criminal or forensic
investigation, and that the judicial sentences should be based on the evidence as a whole and not just
on the genetic studies.
