ABSTRACT
Between the discovery of the structure of DNA in the 1950s, and the mapping of the human genome in 2003, it became common to discuss ‘DNA’, the human ‘genome’ and ‘genetics’ in public discourse on a wide variety of issues. This included the use of particular techniques of ‘DNA profiling’ for forensic purposes. Since the first policing use of DNA in the 1980s, the utilisation of DNA profiling within law enforcement has grown exponentially and its spread is now global. A 2008 Interpol survey showed over half of countries in all regions, except Africa, use DNA profiling in criminal investigations. 1 By early 2016, it is reported that 64 countries have operational national DNA databases of varying sizes, with 30 more in the planning stages.
