DNA tests offer deeper examination of accused

[madmusic]

Second-generation tests may shed light on biological, emotional states

The Washington Post
By Rick Weiss

Twenty years after DNA fingerprints were first admitted by American courts as a way to link suspects to crime scenes, a new and very different class of genetic test is approaching the bench.

Rather than simply proving, for example, that the blood on a suspect's clothes does or does not match that of a murder victim, these "second generation" DNA tests seek to shed light on the biological traits and psychological states of the accused. In effect, they allow genes to "testify" in ways never before possible, in some cases resolving long-standing legal tangles but in others raising new ones.

Already, chemical companies facing "toxic tort" claims have persuaded courts to order DNA tests on the people suing them, part of an attempt to show that the plaintiffs' own genes made them sick -- not the companies' products.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24231824/

[jody]

1. Not surprising, mothers can have abortions if a fetus does not have the right genes.

Genetics and abortion

Medical genetics

[madmusic]

2. True, its the new wave of science

And will be every bit as revolutionary as computers are today.

There is this just posted in the articles forum

Using DNA of Family to Make Arrests. Emerging Practice Turns Relatives Into Genetic Informants

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x354396

[uppityperson]

4. Here in USA or for severe physical/medical issues? What do you mean by "right genes"?

Or do you mean anywhere and for any reason? I think it's great to be able to test for severe abnormalities and then the mother has to make a difficult decision based on a large number of factors.

[Wizard777]

3. Eugenics raises it ugly head once again.

It seems to me like this could be used to validate some of the claims of Hitler. Then how do you keep that from turning into his practises? I don't think it should be allowed to be used in criminology. That If i'm corrcetly understanding this.

[uppityperson]

5. reading article, I'd like to know more about this. Thank you for posting this.

I don't know that the science is exact enough to predict more than predisposition to something, and I don't agree with using that to claim a product wasn't the thing that tipped someone into a disease.

[XemaSab]

6. Yeah, "The defendant had 6 genes coding for skin melanin,

one gene for kinky hair, two genes for black hair, and three genes for dark eye color. I say we lock him up and throw away the key!" :(

/sarcasm