UC Berkeley Asking Incoming Students For DNA Sample

[UberNeuman]

I would not care to give up my DNA. Although as many times as I have had a blood test, they might have it already.

Even if they didn't, I'm sure they could scrape some crusty DNA off of one of your socks or a discarded tissue in a wastebasket...

 

[Rainsford]

I too have wondered how commonplace this is. It seems like a no-brainer--obtain samples from some other person and leave it at the crime scene to mislead investigators. (Most criminals probably aren't bright enough to think to do or prepare to do that, but I'm sure it will become increasingly common.) Call it DNA framing.

If I were a defense attorney, I would begin to call into question all matching DNA samples and to argue whether they were planted.

That wouldn't work for the same reason you don't hear about framing in general all the time. DNA is just another investigative tool, the idea of it being some magical crime solver is a Hollywood invention; it's not how the actual police and legal system use it. Simply dropping some skin cells (or whatever) at the scene of the crime isn't going to be any more effective in framing someone than sending a note to the police saying "Haha, I did it" and signing your target's name.

That's not to say that framing someone with DNA is impossible, but I don't think DNA is especially prone to this any more than any other piece of evidence you might wish to lead investigators in the wrong direction.

 

[Moonbeam]

a bunch of little databases will definitely be useful after the nukes fall...

i'll ask my buddy who's kid is off to berzerkley next year if they're gonna participate... i'm sure he's gonna tell her not to, but she probably will...

Well I sighted up the Campanile today as I drove by and called out a hello from you just for fun.

 

[cubeless]

Well I sighted up the Campanile today as I drove by and called out a hello from you just for fun.

hmmm... i'll have to have igor let you in next time...

and my buddy who's kid is off to berkley next year says they won't be participating... he has all the normal reasons that most have stated, but his daughter, after reading the article, asked "they're equating this with reading a couple books over the summer so we all have something in common to talk about? that's just weird..."...

 

[Moonbeam]

hmmm... i'll have to have igor let you in next time...

and my buddy who's kid is off to berkley next year says they won't be participating... he has all the normal reasons that most have stated, but his daughter, after reading the article, asked "they're equating this with reading a couple books over the summer so we all have something in common to talk about? that's just weird..."...

Weird? Maybe it's best you postpone telling her 'I spoke to the Campanile for you because she's going there and that you're going to allow Igor to let me in' until after she graduates from Berkeley. She's likely, by that time, to have more tolerance for weird.

 

[cubeless]

Weird? Maybe it's best you postpone telling her 'I spoke to the Campanile for you because she's going there and that you're going to allow Igor to let me in' until after she graduates from Berkeley. She's likely, by that time, to have more tolerance for weird.

with grownups like us around she already has a pretty good idea of weird... she's already substantially more liberal than her parents (just like my kids are)... she had a choice of ucla and ucb and took ucb partially because of the look on her dad's face...

maybe you can look in on her to make sure she's ok... or igor can sneak out of the Campanile from time to time to visit...

 

[her209]

That wouldn't work for the same reason you don't hear about framing in general all the time. DNA is just another investigative tool, the idea of it being some magical crime solver is a Hollywood invention; it's not how the actual police and legal system use it. Simply dropping some skin cells (or whatever) at the scene of the crime isn't going to be any more effective in framing someone than sending a note to the police saying "Haha, I did it" and signing your target's name.

That's not to say that framing someone with DNA is impossible, but I don't think DNA is especially prone to this any more than any other piece of evidence you might wish to lead investigators in the wrong direction.

There's a reflection of the killer on the quarter lying on the ground. Enhance! Enhance! Enhance!

Ladies and gentleman, we've got our man!