Can a DNA test be infallible?

Question

Can a DNA test be infallible?

Answer 1

If it is done correctly, then the results are definite.  There is about an 8 million to one chance that the DNA could be very similar to someone elses though.

Answer 2

That's a good question.

Yet I think more important is the possibility of human error.

It is blatantly obvious that the results of Breast Cancer scans are far from infallable. Usually because the names get mixed up or perhaps because the data reader is unsure of what he/she is doing.

Now imagine the same thing happening with DNA records. The first you will know about it is when the police knock on your door at 2 am to tell you that your DNA has just been found on a dead body.

Ok, it may be clarified eventually that it was not your DNA, but how will your neighbours or your emplyer view you in the future.

No, I am afraid the systems are not in place to make DNA testing a 100% certain science.

Answer 3

The dna itself is infallible, but all tests have a probability of error which can occur. That is why most tests are done twice as to make sure that the results are completely certain.

GO ZEUS!

lita

Answer 4

If not scrupulously administered, contamination can be introduced.

Answer 5

Nothing is infallible.

Mistakes have been made & even innocent people charged with murder.

So DNA tests can be wrong..

Answer 6

No such thing as an infallible thing; an infallible object is a perfect object and perfection doesn't exist in our imperfect universe.

Answer 7

No there is a percentage of error. You also have human error and statistics to contend with.

Answer 8

Yes

Answer 9

no

Answer 10

No - absolutely nothing can ever be infallible.

Especially when it is done by people. Errors are made. You can't totally cut out the possibility of an error. I used to work in an 'accredited lab' and even lab techs make mistakes. ALL THE TIME.

Also; contrary to popular belief; it IS possible to have the same DNA as another person (ie. a twin). Even total strangers can have very similar DNA - possibly similar enough to produce a false verdict. Even if the chance of DNA being similar is in the millions then that means that one case in ever few million will condemn a totally innocent man. Is that infallible?

Then throw in the possibility that the DNA on (say for example) a murder victim got there when the suspect hugged the victim the day before or even bumped in to them as a total stranger on the street. Like everything in the judicial system it can and often is a total crapshoot.

Answer 11

No. DNA works on assumptions, the same as any scientific proposition

Answer 12

Go on Jeremy Kyle and find out!

Answer 13

DNA testing is very reliable, the only real problem is in either contamination or laboratory error. So for example in paternity testing there would be no question about the accuracy if it was carried out in an accredited laboratory.The main problem with forensic DNA evidence is in the interpretation of the evidence. For example people who have been accused of a crime and their DNA has been found at the crime scene may have a perfectly innocent explaination of how it came to be there. DNA evidence should never be used exclusively to convict someone when there is no other evidence.