The DNA Detectives

Written by an expert in the field, The DNA Detectives describes the intricate processes used in DNA testing to solve crimes and puzzles across the globe, as well as the fascinating history of the discovery that DNA was the fundamental building block of all life on this planet. Through the ages mankind has always been curious about the way in which characteristics are passed from one generation of another, but this had always been guesswork, often based on incorrect premises and inadequate observations. As time went by, science gradually moved closer to unlocking the secrets, thanks to the intrepid explorers of the human genome. Starting with a short history of personal identification, including fingerprints, the author goes on to describe the various methods of creating a DNA profile. The very first use of DNA to track down a rapist and murderer in the UK is examined. The author also looks at some of the most intriguing identification puzzles from the past, such as the story of the Romanovs and that of Thomas Jefferson who was accused of fathering children with his slave, Sally Hemmings. The ethical questions and long-term implications surrounding the use of DNA are also examined.
For example, if an individual has tested positive for a genetic disease should insurance companies really have access to the results, particularly when the person may never actually develop the disease? There is also the dichotomy that even if we could remove all defective genes we might well, as a result, be causing more long-term problems for ourselves than we would solve. The DNA Detectives is a unique exploration of the use of this most powerful tool, which can reach back long into the past and has helped to provide forensic scientists and the law courts with a new and exciting edge in the fight against crime.