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Picture of Sarah51
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I need a source that will tell me the accuracy of various fields of forensic science. By fields I mean such as: DNA, fingerprinting, polygraph, Time of Death, Voice prints, etc.
Thanks
 
Posts: 402 | Location: VA, USA | Registered: 06-11-02Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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I do not know a source, but one of my HS classmates is (just retired) a forensic expert..I'll try to find out...
But , till then let me give you my opinion...l

DNA and Fingerprint - Totally 100% accurate

Time of Death - Can be as accurate as an hour or less..Depends on when the body was found...

Voice Prints _ I don't know..

Polygraph - Unrelieable, not accepte by courts...
 
Posts: 2258 | Location: Naples, Florida, United States | Registered: 06-03-02Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
Picture of Sarah51
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Thanks so much for your help so far. I'd really appreciate it if you would find out.
 
Posts: 402 | Location: VA, USA | Registered: 06-11-02Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
Picture of Karrow
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As donrent didn't get back to you as promised, here are some sources on the accuracy of the various fields of forensic science that you asked about. I hope they are of help to you. Smile

DNA Fingerprinting

DNA Profiling

Problems with Polygraphs

Can They Fool the Polygraph?

Time of death

Voice prints as evidence
 
Posts: 5062 | Location: UK | Registered: 06-05-02Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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I'd have to disagree with Donrent about fingerprints being "totally 100% accurate." (I'm talking about literal fingerprints made by the ridges of skin on our fingertips -- not DNA "fingerprinting.")

Quite recently the FBI was embarrassed by fingering the wrong guy in the Madrid bombing case in a high-profile fiasco, as described, e.g., here.

An article appeared in The New Yorker in 2002 ("DO FINGERPRINTS LIE?" by Michael Specter) fairly critical of the validity of fingerprinting. I tore out the article and then misplaced it (filed under P for "paper" or A for "article"? Smile ) but I managed to find this link to it, so I know I'm not hallucinating!

I don't know where fingerprint evidence stands legally today, but it certainly isn't the gold standard it was once considered.
 
Posts: 1895 | Location: U.S. | Registered: 06-03-02Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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Picture of Leppi
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Even looking at the genetic code is not completely accurate. DNA has the ability to "jump" and slightly change te code.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2000/07/000710071506.htm
 
Posts: 3134 | Location: looking for planet earth | Registered: 06-03-02Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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There is nothing that is 100% accurate in any realm of science. At best, one can only be MOSTLY correct.

It wouldn't be science if there weren't room for error.
 
Posts: 195 | Location: Illinois | Registered: 06-05-04Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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