When
scientists James Watson and Francis Crick first mapped
the structure of the DNA double helix a half century
ago, little did they know that they were also unleashing
a powerful weapon in the fight against crime and terrorism.
How
powerful? Extremely. Today, DNA evidence and
tests can:
So
how can DNA do all this? DNA
can uniquely identify an individual in ways that even
fingerprints can't. DNA is found in virtually every
human cell. It can be extracted from hair, teeth, bones,
and body fluids (blood, saliva, semen, even sweat!).
It leaves traces on everything from cigarette butts
to postage stamps, from shirt collars to napkins. And
it lasts for years -- even in harsh conditions, even
when there's little left of human remains. For example,
following the 9/11/01 attacks, investigators were able
to find traces of DNA in the rubble of the World Trade
Center that identified victims and brought some measure
of closure and relief to their devastated families.
But
the crime-fighting power of DNA really didn't begin
to be unlocked until 1990. That's when the
FBI began a pilot project called the Combined
DNA Index System, or CODIS --
which, following Congressional approval and funding,
became fully operational in 1998.
What's
CODIS? CODIS is a three-hitter: computer technology
(a database program and software), forensic science
(DNA profiles rigorously measured and maintained),
and telecommunications (the ability of local, state,
and federal labs to share information and communicate
electronically) all rolled into one.
Simply
put, CODIS stores DNA profiles from around the country in
a series of local, state, and national databases, all
linked via computers, enabling crime labs at every
level to share and compare DNA profiles electronically.
Lightning fast searches using CODIS can link DNA found
at one crime to other crime scenes and to convicted
criminals whose DNA is already on file.
Tomorrow,
we'll share more specifics on how CODIS works, talk about
how it just passed a significant milestone, and pass
on a few recent success stories. Stay tuned!