DNA databases

Ahqmeed - posted on 09/17/2012

you bitches are petifiles yall nneed to find some other shit to do becuse yall lonely...............................................................................................................................................

Sarah - posted on 07/30/2010

As long as there is legislation in place to secure the misuse of DNA, I have no probelm with it. Different states in the US have different policies regarding teh taking od DNA samples. Personally, I am A-OK with convicted criminals having their DNA taken. And I know some who think ok, take DNA from felons, but not misdemeanors, however I believe that one leads to the other and therefor, I think we should take DNA from any convicted offender. We allready take away some of your freedoms when you are convicted, why would your DNA remain untouched?

Chatty - posted on 07/30/2010

I agree with Laura...

Isobel - posted on 07/30/2010

of course they could definitely be useful...there's no question of that...but I had a law teacher once in highschool who made one statement that I will never forget.

Whenever a change in policy is suggested, it is our obligation to look at the worst way it could possibly be used against innocent people...you can never just assume that your government or your leaders will always be just and good.

Toni - posted on 07/30/2010

Hmm interesting Laura. Ok so yes we have to consider what would be done if there was a gene for violent tendancies found, but what is there to suggest that this knowledge would be used in a negative way? Why could this knowledge not be utilised by ensuring that the people who may have a predisposition to violence are educated in how to control their emotions etc.

I do agree that fiction is never far from the truth look at Orwell's 1984 Big Brother character but we do need to look at the positives of these fictions as well as the negatives - we are safe due to Big Brother 'watching us' IMO.

I think that due to discrimination laws we will never be able to live in a wolrd where our genetics dictate where we live or what we do because if that happens we will be moving backwards rather than forwards.

I do agree that DNA databases can be misused and corrupted but there are so many positive reasons for having them. Do you think there are any reasons to have them?

Isobel - posted on 07/29/2010

let's say sometime in the future they found a gene for violent tendencies... would it then be in the public interest to detain individuals who had this gene BEFORE they commit a crime?

what if it became illegal to hold public office if you had "defective" genes...

what about the creation of a subservient class of people like in a Brave New World?

In the novel Oryx and Crake, by Margaret Atwood, the neighbourhood you live in and where you are allowed to work is based on genetics.

Gattica is a movie starring Ethan Hawke where you cannot get a decent job, or relationship without providing a sample of your DNA to prove that you are worthy...

There are tons of ways for a general DNA database to be misused...

Toni - posted on 07/29/2010

Laura I've got a couple of questions, how would DNA show you are more likely to commit a crime? What repercussions can you foresee? (I have some in mind but just interested in your take).

Dana what are your thoughts on the questions?

:-)

Chatty - posted on 07/29/2010

What the hell is wrong with tin-foil hats? ;)

Isobel - posted on 07/29/2010

a tin-foil hat wearer would respond that IF a dictator somehow got into office, and made it against the law to fight against him, he would then be able to hunt you down VERY easily. You would be able to target certain people whose dna might show they are LIKELY to commit crimes...there are tons of repercussions to keep in mind.

I'm a big fan of futuristic/apocalyptic novels...if you read enough Orwell and Margaret Atwood (a Canadian author) you'll see all the reasons people want to keep their info off the grid.

Mae - posted on 07/29/2010

You asked quiet a few questions here so in order:

1. Yes I do think there should be DNA databases not just to help identify the offender but it also help to identify the victim. Not just victims of crime but also victims of accidents where traditional methods are difficult to use at best.

2 & 3 The United States has criminals in their databases as well as police, fire, and military personnell. My DNA is in the database already because of military service that is the only reason I know that much. I think that this is a good place to start however I am not opposed to databasing everyone just because there are a lot of unidentified bodies found in fields or lakes or rivers though most are eventually identified it would be much quicker if the police could use a DNA database and it would eliminate many of the unidentified persons given their families closure.

4. I would think it would prevent some crimes that were premeditated but there will always be the "Crimes of Passion"





Over all I think they are a good thing. I think that anything no matter how good can be perverted to bad uses but that doesn't mean we should do away with the idea because there are potential bad uses.

Chatty - posted on 07/28/2010

....

Amy - posted on 07/28/2010

I think there useful and have helped put people away, and let Innocent people free.

I'm not sure I'm for sharing the DNA databases between countries because they all have different things they do when trying people. If they were ever shared between countries I think they would need to have more information to help those who are being set up.

I'm not sure it would affect crime rates much, it might make people want to set someone up more then before.

Toni - posted on 07/27/2010

That is exactly what I think Kati - I am innocent and so am not worried if they have my DNA!

Rosie - posted on 07/27/2010

i would go as far to say that i want everybody's DNA taken at birth and put in a database, so all the police have to do is test the dna if there is any and the crime is pretty much solved.
it would save tax payers alot of money paying for man hours of police trying to figure out who did it. plus, i'm positive it would save alot of lives. there are so many people who rape or kill more than one person, catch them the first time, and his other victims lives would be saved. that's another way to save money as well, not as many cases to solve from the same guy.

i don't care if people have my dna, i'm not a criminal-you won't find my dna anywhere there is a murder victim.

Toni - posted on 07/27/2010

IMO it would be really beneficial for there to be a DNA database of everybody. I realise that there are people who would not go to have this done so I believe that all babies should have their DNA registered on a database so in 50 years (or so) most people would be registered. I think by doing this oppertunistic crimes could be reduced as the police would be able to find DNA. I would rather have this type of 'big brother' society than one where we are not allowed to keep records surely it would be safer this way.

Good Day! - posted on 07/26/2010

When I was a freshman in college there was a serial killer targeting female graduate students at my school. He killed six grad students that year. Scared the crap out of me. But they matched the guy's DNA to someone in the database. This also connected him to two murders that had happened in my hometown at the time I was in elementary school. Plus the guy lived about six minutes from my childhood home, and he got his coffee every morning from the same gas station I regularly used. Scary. I'm glad they had the database and the guy was caught, and is now on death row at Angola. I guess I'd say I was for it. I don't know how to answer questions 2 and 3.

Jane - posted on 07/26/2010

We've had them in the US for years and they work VERY well. Not only have they been successful in catching criminals, they've also been used to fee the wrongly accused. I'm all for it!

Holly - posted on 07/26/2010

Hmmm... I can't help but think about how much easier it will be to find a killer based on just a wad of spit at a crime scene (if the dna is already in the database of course). But then I also think that it is a lot like Big Brother and it worries me to some extent.



At this point I don't know if I'm for or against it... I think I'll keep an eye on the conversation and see if I get swayed one way or the other... Great topic by the way! :)