DNA fingerprinting

[Andrew Cockburn]

In article <306uc6$b7h at rebecca.albany.edu>, tivol at tethys.ph.albany.edu writes:

<stuff deleted>

> As
> is carefully stated by the more careful workers in this field, DNA finger-
> printing is best used to *eliminate* a person as a source of the DNA.
...
> 					Yours,
> 					Bill Tivol

As Sherlock Holmes often pointed out, *all* evidence is best used to eliminate
possibilities.  "Once you have eliminated the impossible, whatever is left,
however improbable, is the truth."

However, DNA evidence is probably the most accurate way currently available
of establishing the identity of a person.  The least accurate method of
establishing identity is also the most commonly used: eye witnesses.

Andrew Cockburn