2006-07-22 09:09:53 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
No. Even assuming that no errors were made by the lab conducting the test, current DNA testing only returns a probability of a match. The probability can be very, very high with something like a 99.9999% probability of a match. Still, it is never 100%. However, it is possible to exclude someone with 100% certainty in many cases.
2006-07-22 09:16:51 · answer #1 · answered by hedgeman 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Some people actually carry two DNA types in their body astonishingly enough--it's an absorbed twin thing. This was once thought to be extremely rare but with the growing frequency of DNA testing they are finding more and more people like this but it is still extremely rare.
Of course there are occasionally lab screw ups. If a test comes out as a match twice I would think it was accurate.
2006-07-22 16:14:58 · answer #2 · answered by psycho-cook 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
While nothing can be certiified as 100%, DNA testing comes pretty darned close to it. It provides a basis to eliminate others from a situation as well as confirm the one individual's involvement. In the case of proving paternity issues it is sufficient. In criminal cases they take the level of testing through an even-more intense screening and the results are unquestionably sound.
2006-07-22 16:13:40 · answer #3 · answered by J.D. 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The chances of two people being identified by DNA as the same person are one in ten trillion (there are about 6.5 billion people on the Earth). Therefore, DNA can be guaraneeed to be more than 99.999% accurate UNLESS the person being identified has an identical twin (as identical twins have the same DNA).
2006-07-22 16:20:07 · answer #4 · answered by Patrick 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well....its good enough to be used in courtrooms. But its not perfect. Its like 99.999999% correct.
DNA tests do not pick people out and say, "It was him!". What it does is prove that it could be no one else. Its really saying, "It could not be person A or B.....so it must be person C." Of course if someone with almost the same blood composition as person C (Like a relative) is around, the DNA test could be wrong .000001% of the time.
2006-07-22 16:16:21 · answer #5 · answered by broxolm 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends upon what you are testing for. If you are trying to establish (or not establish) paternity, then yes, it's trustworthy. If you are trying to sort out a crime scene, it's as trustworthy as the lab running the tests. Check out their track record, and certification. There is QA criteria established by the FBI, through CODIS , at http://www.fbi.gov/hq/lab/codis/index1.htm for laboratories performing DNA sample testing from crime scenes. See if they are accredited. Properly collected, properly conducted, DNA testing is as near 100% certainty as you can get.
2006-07-22 16:31:56 · answer #6 · answered by functionary01 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely. DNA is better than finger prints.
2006-07-22 16:14:08 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. When DNA is tested, it will give you the exact profile. ex 99.8% accurate for parentage
2006-07-22 16:14:29 · answer #8 · answered by Nancy L 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
with all the new technologies these days, I say it,s very good at the 100% mark.
2006-07-22 16:19:21 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
nothing is 100% but it is the best we got for now.
2006-07-22 16:13:52 · answer #10 · answered by insane 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋