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Fabricate Your Own DNA Evidence
Science Fiction's Verdict on Patents? Guilty.
Indian Court Accepts Brain Scans as Evidence of Murder

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bookwench
08/19/09

In reply to Fabricate Your Own DNA Evidence
See? This just means we need more cameras. Cameras everywhere, in every aspect of our lives, to make ABSOLUTELY SURE we're all behaving in a morally appropriate fashion at all times.
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Klebert L. Hall
08/19/09

In reply to Fabricate Your Own DNA Evidence
"Frumkin says that, at the moment, there are ways to determine whether DNA evidence has been fabricated (and his own company, Nucleix, provides such tests)"

This seems to be the key phrase in the article.
-Kle.
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Ghede
08/18/09

In reply to Fabricate Your Own DNA Evidence
Of course, sequencing is getting a lot faster and a lot cheaper, maybe it is time they went for the whole thing.
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Elle
08/18/09

In reply to Fabricate Your Own DNA Evidence
I'm all for not relying too heavily on any one type of evidence, especially any that are possibly faked, but something tells me that the natural response to reading such an article as this just goes to incite panic and distrust in the system in place. That isn't good for anybody. If indeed "there are ways to determine whether DNA evidence has been fabricated," then I don't see what the problem is. Make those tests more standard in high profile cases where the only evidence is dna related and move on.
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kosai
08/18/09

@Elle: Oh no problem at all, the man inciting the panic owns the company that will perform the test.
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Evil Tortie's Mom: R.O.A.C.H.
08/18/09

@kosai: Funny how that works, isn't it.

He will also sell you a magic rock that keeps away tigers.
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Edited by Evil Tortie's Mom: R.O.A.C.H. at 08/18/09 3:03 PM

Greasy Thumb Guzik
08/18/09

In reply to Fabricate Your Own DNA Evidence
It's a lot simpler to pickup a bag of McDonald's waste from the street & leave it at the crime scene!
If you're lucky, the leftover food will have a DNA match in the system & fingerprints on the bag.
Or just sop up some spit from the sidewalk with a clean napkin [be sure to wear gloves in either case] & leave the napkin at the scene.
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goldfarb
08/18/09

@Greasy Thumb Guzik: this is actually a really good idea...
grab a few bags of trash from your area (including one of your own)
go to intended crime scene
commit crime
toss all the garbage all over the place

1 - you'll totally overwhelm the police/labs
2 - you stuff (including DNA) will be found, but so will that of your neighbour = reasonable doubt.
3 - sheer elegance in its simplicity.
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Illogic
08/18/09

@goldfarb: Seems better to try and not leave any of your own DNA in the first place though.
I mean, considering that it's be premeditated in this case.
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WLDaywalker
08/18/09

@Illogic: As CSI has taught us, when in doubt, use bleach.

A few years back I walked up to the checkout counter of a bix box retailer with a 5gal bucket, 1gal of bleach, a 2ft pry bar and a hand saw. Paid in cash. Cashier didn't even bat an eye, too busy talking on her cell. That was the day I started getting ideas.
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Janglesatwest
08/18/09

In reply to Fabricate Your Own DNA Evidence
That seems to require a lot of technical know-how in order to pull it off, but it is something people should be aware of. If there are tests to see in the DNA evidence has been faked in this way then those tests should be put into the SOP.
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RandomFrequentFlierDent
08/18/09

@Janglesatwest: Well, he did specify that the individual would have to be studying in the field of biology. I don’t think any old Stabby McGee would be able to get into a lab and duplicate the procedures. As a biochem undergrad I'd say I could pull off both of these. The first one is particularly easy, and I have access to a lab with all the equipment necessary . . . not that I would ever need to fake DNA evidence or anything . . . .
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RAHfanboy
11/01/08

In reply to Science Fiction's Verdict on Patents? Guilty.
The main character in Heinlein's "Door into Summer" wakes from cryogenic sleep, designs some inventions, but finds them already patented years ago. As it turns out, he patented them himself after going back in time. If that's a spoiler, get over it, the book's been out for decades. Patent law is not treated as bad or good, but just another tool that can be used or misused, like a gun or a hammer or a karaoke machine.
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