UPDATE: McDonnell says state can now perform familial DNA searches

[Snoutport]

Source: Richmond Times Dispatch Virginia

Gov. Bob McDonnell announced today that the Virginia Department of Forensic Science now has the ability to perform familial DNA searching, a technique that has been sought by prosecutors and victim family members to help solve some of the state's most difficult cases.

The technique would allow the DNA database to be searched for a person who may be closely related to a suspect who is not in the database but whose DNA has been identified on crime scene evidence

Read more: http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/virginia-politics/2011/mar/21/7/mcdonnell-says-state-can-now-perform-familial-dna--ar-917124/

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Modern Science is.... scary sometimes.

[DeeJay]

1. Sure, this is how it begins

all with good intent. Pretty soon they're mining the database for other purposes. It always happens.

[nebenaube]

2. If you live in VA and have six-fingers dna lingering, beware...

It wouldn't be the first time...

[The Backlash Cometh]

3. I have had my husband claim that he lost his used razor in an airport search.

Didn't even know he had lost it until he opened the luggage and found the note. He searched, and his used razor was the only thing missing. Then a few months later my daughter says that "lost" her toothbrush in transit.

Yeah, my tinfoil cap is firmly in place. Would not surprise me to learn that certain sectors of our government are collecting DNA samples for their own purpose.

[RantinRavin]

12. They don't take razors from checked luggage

It's perfectly legal to have as long as it's checked. I'm calling bullshit.

[The Backlash Cometh]

14. They took the part that fits into the razor. The part where hair and dead skin cells get stuck in.

Don't really much care what you call it. He packed it at the hotel in his toiletry bag and at the end of the trip, it was gone.

Gee, taking your word or the word of my anal retentive husband. What a tough call.

[sofa king]

13. Wait until the insurance companies get hold of it.

Think of how devastating it's going to be for individuals who learn that something is ticking down in their DNA, the insurance companies know it, and won't tell them what it is.

[tpsbmam]

17. Oh hell, you could find something ticking in almost everyone's DNA. Of course

that just gives them a good excuse to raise everyone's premiums.

[AllTooEasy]

4. Not sure how to vote on this one, here's why...

A friend's sister was brutally raped in her DC apartment years ago. The cops had DNA but it didn't match anyone in the system. It remains a cold case. Horrible crime with no closure.

On the other hand, I don't want the police knocking on my door because me and a suspect may have had a mutual great-great-great-great-grandmother.

[kickysnana]

6. Bad enough getting BIL's collection calls.

Of course this might be the only way we reform our system where everyone in some neighborhoods is a suspect.

They finally did reform the one informant drug equals drug charges in Texas.

I sure wish we taught critical thinking and kids encouraged each other to succeed in something other than sports.

[Ticonderoga]

5. Next Up

TSA Fingerwaves, because it's in the interest of national security.

[iandhr]

7. has this technique

been peer reviewed?

[TheMadMonk]

11. Yes. /nt

[sarcasmo]

8. The prison system, which is by far the largest on the Planet, needs more prisoners.

[blueclown]

15. So we need to keep violent criminals on the street?

Please, put your talking points away.

Overcrowding of prisons is a big problem. Nonviolent offenders and petty drug offenses are some of the reasons why our prisons are overcrowded. But keeping violent criminals on the street because our prisons are overcrowded may just be the dumbest thing I've heard...

[sarcasmo]

16. self delete.

[Sonicwall]

9. It'll be found unconstitutional

Famlial DNA was on SVU alot - I disagree with it.

[lynne]

10. Modern science has also freed those who were convicted in error -

- so I guess this is the other side of the DNA coin. This doesn't make anyone automatically guilty, it would narrow the pool of suspects based on DNA. Of course, someone in your family would have to have their DNA in the database for a connection to happen.