Understanding DNA Evidence

Due in part to the "CSI effect" but also because of increased real-world law enforcement use of forensic DNA evidence, the general public has taken a greater interest in it.

There is a good introduction to DNA Forensics at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory website. This link has additional links that help readers understand genetics and the Human Genome Project.

The public's interest has been fueled significantly by the cases of people who were wrongly convicted, some waiting execution on death row, who were freed because DNA evidence exonerated them. The Innocence Project at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University works "...to exonerate the wrongfully convicted through postconviction DNA testing; and develop and implement reforms to prevent wrongful convictions."