Themes in Katie Worth’s Article “The Surprisingly Imperfect Science of DNA Testing” by Ally, Eric, and Kaija

Theme 1: DNA testing can provide unreliable evidence DNA is often found degraded in quality and in miniscule amounts “... different analysts can reach different conclusions about the same DNA evidence...” Importance: DNA testing is a trusted means of acquiring evidence Many have been convicted due to DNA testing

Discussion Question: Is DNA in the “eye of the beholder”? Itiel Dror of University College London Seventeen analysts, only one correct “ With interpretation comes subjectivity, and with subjectivity can come error.” More than one sample How many people to consider What “spikes” belong to each person Stochastic Threshold 2011: Not established yet 2012: 86% of all labs

Discussion Question: Should there be specific standards set in every lab? LCN (Law Copy Number) testing - most controversial practice in forensics Spikes on electropherogram where none are > loci No standard set Crime labs map “loci” not human genome 13 total - two alleles (one from each parent) Alleles - spikes on electropherogram CODIS (Combined DNA Index System) cannot be searched w/o 10/13 loci

Theme 2: People can be wrongfully convicted based on DNA Tests Innocence Project - against cutting edge practices “...the California Innocence Project had a large private lab test evidence attorneys believed could exonerate a convicted murderer...the DNA was inconclusive. Lawyers took the same data to another analyst. By her assessment, the evidence plainly cleared the convict.” In this case, the evidence against the McBenge brothers was entirely circumstantial. The DNA was so degraded that it should not have been used as evidence; however, courts made exceptions and the brothers were convicted.

Discussion Question: Is it right to convict someone based on DNA testing? McBenge brothers Their DNA was only found on inconsequential pieces of evidence No witness testimony Barry Scheck and the Innocence Project Claims to have exonerated hundreds from wrongful convictions Fights the use of “cutting-edge DNA forensics”

Further Inquiry Theme 1: DNA testing can provide unreliable evidence Theme 2: People can be wrongfully convicted based on DNA Tests Consider This: How does this affect how people are penalized?

Works Cited Anderson, Brandon. Crime Scene Tape. 26 July Flickr. Web. 16 Feb Electropherogram Trace. Digital image. Wikipedia. N.p., 4 May Web. 16 Feb N.d. Reflection. 27 Oct Flickr. Web. 16 Feb Wake Forest University School of Law. Co-founder of Innocence Project Barry Scheck Digital image. Flickr.com. Flickr, 17 Apr Web. 16 Feb Worth, Katie. “The Surprisingly Imperfect Science of DNA Testing.” Frontline. The Marshall Project. Fusion. N.d. Web. 16 Feb