As the state of Virginia celebrates its 5,000th DNA hit to its state databank, there is growing concern in some circles that trusty ole DNA isn't as reliable as it used to be and may one day be as helpful in a legal case as, say, a McHappy Meal.
The Los Angeles Times reported recently upon a case in which crime lab analyst Kathryn Troyer was running tests on Arizona's version of a DNA database, when she discovered something both amazing and disburbing—two felons had remarkably similar genetic profiles, matching nine of the 13 locations on chromosomes, or loci, commonly used to distinguish people. But they weren't twins nor were they related. In fact, was black, the other white. This happened back in 2001, but experts in other states have since found 1,000 other such cases, setting off storms of controversy over whether such DNA evidence should be given closer scrutiny and to what degree, and even prompting claims of an FBI coverup.
It's a longish article, but it brings up some very interesting questions about what's been the gold standard of forensic science over the past few decades. On the other hand, it could also be good fodder for a mystery writer out there.
