DNA fingerprinting and forensic science are fascinating topics as evidenced by the many successful television shows and movies that feature forensic investigations.   “CSI” – in various big cities in the United States, “NCIS”, and a host of shows featuring pathologists as the main characters, such as “Bones” and “Body of Proof”, keep us glued to the set as we watch the characters set to work in the crime lab.  We can’t wait to find out how DNA fingerprinting and forensic science will be used to catch the criminal.

The really exciting thing is that DNA fingerprinting and forensic science are used in real life, too, not only to catch criminals, but also to set innocent people free.  The Innocence Project is an organization dedicated to freeing people who were wrongly convicted of a crime before DNA evidence was used in criminal investigations.

DNA fingerprinting and forensic science are also used in other applications such as matching donors and recipients for organ transplants, establishing paternity and other family relationships, and even verifying the authenticity of valuable products like caviar and wine.

Though DNA fingerprinting and forensic science have many viable uses, there are some ethical components to consider.  Ethicists warn that DNA evidence should never be used to predict the propensity an individual has for criminal behavior or susceptibility to disease.  Just think of the implications this could have on a person’s ability to get a job or to obtain insurance.

Gattaca, a not-too-futuristic movie made 15 years ago, highlights how society could “advance”, based on DNA fingerprinting and forensic science, in a history-repeating scenario a la India’s caste system.  Individuals are categorized based on their genetic profiles at birth.  Gattaca’s protagonist was able to overcome being genetically profiled as suitable for only menial labor by the use of his sharp mind, but the rest of us might not be so lucky if Big Brother some day decides that our DNA is our destiny.