Introduction
Crime occurs at all levels of society and exerts influence over all people. Subsequently
criminology can be defined as the scientific study of crime as a social phenomenon in all its
aspects. It includes within its scope, the process of making laws, breaking laws and the reactions
towards the breaking of law. Criminologists are trained in the social sciences, and focus on the
causes, explanation and prevention of criminal behavior.
With the advent of technological advancement, individual and police officials involved in
combatting crime must continually adjust their methods and techniques in the development of
more effective ones. Science has significantly contributed to the progression of investigative
techniques. This is made apparent in the disciplines of criminalistics and forensic science
respectively. Criminalistics as a field of study is concerned with the implementation of the
methods, instruments, techniques and knowledge of the natural sciences in the investigation of
crime. The criminalist is trained in forensic investigative techniques and applied knowledge from
sciences such as chemistry, physics, biology, pharmacology and odontology.
Forensic science as a field of study is the application of scientific knowledge and principles to
the resolution of legal disputes, whether it be civil or criminal. Forensic science and
criminalistics in its application is a sub-discipline of criminology. Consequently, by
compounding the two disciplines, creates the concept of forensic criminology, which refers to
the actions of the criminologist, in collecting, analyzing and presenting evidence for objective
proceedings in judicial processes. Its essence is the combined categories of criminology,
criminalistics and forensic science where the abstract and theoretical meet abstract and
concrete(Dick,2011).
Therefore, the purpose of this paper will be to discuss the relative definition of
Deoxyribonucleic Acid(DNA) profiling, its advantages, disadvantages and limitations whilst also
providing insight as to how evidence is presented in a South African court setting. Furthermore,
that DNA profiling be discussed in lieu with the above-mentioned topics, enabling a greater
comprehension of the subject matter to be realized.
1|Page
, 1) DNA Profiling
DNA is the genetic material found in all human cells and carries the coded messages of heredity
unique to everyone. DNA governs the inheritance of eye colour, hair, stature, bone density and
many other biological traits(Martin,2002). One can state that it is the foundational building block
of an organism’s entire genetic make-up.in investigative terms, DNA is our genetic fingerprint.
There are approximately 100 trillion cells in a human body, each of which contains 23
chromosomes. Scholars such as Omar (2008) argue that the human body’s cells each contain a
complete sample of our DNA. This is supported by the fact that a person’s DNA is the same in
every cell.
Chromosomes (within the genetic code) consist of the linked base pairs that form a ladder-like
structure. The ladder is twisted into what is referred to as a double-helix with a sequence of base
pairs in chromosomes that differ from person to person distinguishing an individual uniquely.
Genes are found at a locus which is a specific physical location on a chromosome. Two forms of
a gene at a particular locus constitute an allele. At each locus, there is a pair of alleles, one
maternal and one paternal. This pair is called a genotype. A set of genotypes at multiple or
numerous loci form a DNA profile.
DNA can be extracted from whole blood, semen and sperm cells; tissue and organs; bones and
teeth, urine, saliva and any other bodily secretions or tissue. Scientists have developed methods
in which sequences of DNA are analyzed at a specific locus on a chromosome. Forensic DNA
laboratories across the world, employ uniform methods and standards of DNA
Profiling(Dick,2011). The process of DNA profiling or DNA typing commences with the
extraction of genetic material from the DNA matter collected at the crime scene. The two most
common techniques of DNA Profiling are: Polymerase Chain Reaction(PCR) and Short Tandem
Repeats(STR).
2|Page
Crime occurs at all levels of society and exerts influence over all people. Subsequently
criminology can be defined as the scientific study of crime as a social phenomenon in all its
aspects. It includes within its scope, the process of making laws, breaking laws and the reactions
towards the breaking of law. Criminologists are trained in the social sciences, and focus on the
causes, explanation and prevention of criminal behavior.
With the advent of technological advancement, individual and police officials involved in
combatting crime must continually adjust their methods and techniques in the development of
more effective ones. Science has significantly contributed to the progression of investigative
techniques. This is made apparent in the disciplines of criminalistics and forensic science
respectively. Criminalistics as a field of study is concerned with the implementation of the
methods, instruments, techniques and knowledge of the natural sciences in the investigation of
crime. The criminalist is trained in forensic investigative techniques and applied knowledge from
sciences such as chemistry, physics, biology, pharmacology and odontology.
Forensic science as a field of study is the application of scientific knowledge and principles to
the resolution of legal disputes, whether it be civil or criminal. Forensic science and
criminalistics in its application is a sub-discipline of criminology. Consequently, by
compounding the two disciplines, creates the concept of forensic criminology, which refers to
the actions of the criminologist, in collecting, analyzing and presenting evidence for objective
proceedings in judicial processes. Its essence is the combined categories of criminology,
criminalistics and forensic science where the abstract and theoretical meet abstract and
concrete(Dick,2011).
Therefore, the purpose of this paper will be to discuss the relative definition of
Deoxyribonucleic Acid(DNA) profiling, its advantages, disadvantages and limitations whilst also
providing insight as to how evidence is presented in a South African court setting. Furthermore,
that DNA profiling be discussed in lieu with the above-mentioned topics, enabling a greater
comprehension of the subject matter to be realized.
1|Page
, 1) DNA Profiling
DNA is the genetic material found in all human cells and carries the coded messages of heredity
unique to everyone. DNA governs the inheritance of eye colour, hair, stature, bone density and
many other biological traits(Martin,2002). One can state that it is the foundational building block
of an organism’s entire genetic make-up.in investigative terms, DNA is our genetic fingerprint.
There are approximately 100 trillion cells in a human body, each of which contains 23
chromosomes. Scholars such as Omar (2008) argue that the human body’s cells each contain a
complete sample of our DNA. This is supported by the fact that a person’s DNA is the same in
every cell.
Chromosomes (within the genetic code) consist of the linked base pairs that form a ladder-like
structure. The ladder is twisted into what is referred to as a double-helix with a sequence of base
pairs in chromosomes that differ from person to person distinguishing an individual uniquely.
Genes are found at a locus which is a specific physical location on a chromosome. Two forms of
a gene at a particular locus constitute an allele. At each locus, there is a pair of alleles, one
maternal and one paternal. This pair is called a genotype. A set of genotypes at multiple or
numerous loci form a DNA profile.
DNA can be extracted from whole blood, semen and sperm cells; tissue and organs; bones and
teeth, urine, saliva and any other bodily secretions or tissue. Scientists have developed methods
in which sequences of DNA are analyzed at a specific locus on a chromosome. Forensic DNA
laboratories across the world, employ uniform methods and standards of DNA
Profiling(Dick,2011). The process of DNA profiling or DNA typing commences with the
extraction of genetic material from the DNA matter collected at the crime scene. The two most
common techniques of DNA Profiling are: Polymerase Chain Reaction(PCR) and Short Tandem
Repeats(STR).
2|Page
