DNA precision of 99.9% is not 100%. For a number of years now, the court system in the US often accepts DNA as a reliable evidence in trials. Experts argued that the precision of the percentage in the high 90’s is absolute proof of guilt or innocence. However, a recent story by ABC news shows that DNA cannot differentiate the DNAs of twins. I find this finding very interesting. I wonder how this would change the court system in this country.
Here is the full story. NOTICE: There are adult items in this article. Please read with caution. It may not be suitable for young readers.
Sad story…
What a sad story. A girl brought up never knowing which of two people is her real father. Very sad.
As strange as this story may be, I question the choice to place it on your blog. I’m sure some kids read here and I wouldn’t want to field my kids’ questions after reading this. Would you?
I only feel sad for the girl.
The mother obviously has ZERO moral character.
The men have little as well since they had relations with a stranger.
I won’t know exactly how much blame to assess them since I don’t watch or read stories about trash.
There is nothing rea about reality TV. It is a crime it is allowed to air.
Just like it was a crime that those people lied about others in that office gossip story below.
The other sad part is the millions of Dead Beat Dads in this country who refuse to support their real child.
We have a society of people who refuse to be responsible for their own actions.
Our rich country should give a free college scholarship to all kids who are smart enough to pass the courses. Everyone should be given the opportunity to at least try to get a college scholarship.
Many years ago everyone was offered a free high school education at a time when many did not get a high school education and at a time when a high school education really helped a person to get ahead.
Now people need a college education and we do nothing for them. Our government is about to end the educational loans to college students. It needs the money to kill people in Iraq. Killing people in Iraq is expensive. There is now no money left over for medicine for old people and an education for the young.
Just as we as individuals refuse to support our children, our government refuses to help its own people.
How it would change things?
It would require other evidence in the case of twins. Is there an untoward incidence of this type of “twin crisis?”
I agree with Susan. If a person is caught doing a crime and his DNA matches, how can they prove that it’s him and not his brother? This will be a tough one. Lawyers can make a mockery of the court system with this.
Actually both men are liable and BOTH should pay for their behaviour
They both took the immoral chance so they both knew ahead of time they were responsible
OJ Simpson used something like this 99.9% thing for his defense.
With DNA tests, it’s easy to distinguish between brothers or sisters or neighbors or anyone–unless that “anyone” is an IDENTICAL twin.
And OJ Simpson’s lawyer argued that 99.9999999% is not 100%: “It’s not 100%. There is some remote possibility that there could be someone somewhere in southern California who might have similar DNA to OJ’s and that that is the person who really did the killing.”
The accuracy of the DNA tests tends to be WAY higher than 99.9%.
Actually both men are liable and BOTH should pay for their behaviour
They both took the immoral chance so they both knew ahead of time they were responsible
Michael,
1. Immoral is not equal to illegal or legally responsible.
2. I find it interesting that you and others point out the immorality of the two men. How much less immoral for a woman to have sex with two men on the same day? It was not indicated in the story that she didn’t know that they were twins.
Gabor
Anon:
“Everyone should be given the opportunity to at least try to get a college scholarship.”
Everyone is. It’s called High School. Do well, and you can qualify for scholarships and grants.
I think what you want is a FREE RIDE without putting in the effort.
You must be a democrat.
Michael c.m. Why is it immoral to have relations with a woman? Some sort of twisted biblical morality perhaps but not one that most people would subscribe to. There is nothing immoral about sex between consenting adults.
I really would not orry about use of DNA evidence in the courts. It is not the sole means of determining guilt. The case at hand is one that involves identical twins (the only people who share exact DNA and thus be subject to confusion). For there to be any further confusion in the courts both would have to share motive, would have to have been in the same location and a great deal many more factors.
@george
Don’t worry about your kids reading this story. A kid who can read a chess blog already knows everything from his schoolmates. It would even be a good opportunity to talk these important issues over with your children.
Anon: “Why is it immoral to have relations with a woman?” Sometimes it is; sometimes it isn’t. Having sex with a stranger, getting her pregnant, and then taking zero responsibility for the child is truly vile.