How to Fake a DNA Test
by Dr. Hsien-Hsien Lei
Posted April 13, 2008 in DNA and the Law
Most people who buy DNA test want to know the truth but there are others who want to evade it.
In 1992, Dr. John Schneeberger implanted a plastic tube in his arm filled with someone else’s blood. He had been charged with two counts of sexual assault in Saskatchewan, Canada. When ordered to provide a blood sample, Schneeberger drew the blood himself from the plastic tube instead of his vein. He was eventually deported and sent back to South Africa.
In March 2007, four Massachusetts men were charged with attempting to tamper with DNA testing. They apparently tried to trade ID bracelets when having their blood drawn but was caught when their fingerprints didn’t match the samples. I’m not sure what became of them but they faced a sentence of up to five years in jail.
And in a paper published in the Journal of Forensic Sciences, Dr. Jose Antonio Lorente Acosta at the Laboratory of Genetic Identification of the University of Granada found evidence of fraud in a paternity test case. The suspect had applied another person’s saliva to the inside of his mouth prior to having DNA samples taken with a cotton swab.
And what about accurate DNA analyses that are reported INaccurately? I’m sure there are unscrupulous DNA testing services worldwide that will give people any results they want for whatever purposes they need it for, e.g., immigration. Not to mention people like Simon Mullane, a British businessman who made-up paternity test results rather than actually doing the testing. Makes you think twice about the accuracy and validity of DNA testing, doesn’t it?
Related Posts:
Fake Names in the UK National DNA Database...
HPV DNA Test for Cervical Cancer...
Curious Genetics and DNA Google Ads...
Is the Pink or Blue early baby gender DNA test accurate?...
BioMarker Pharmaceuticals Launches the Gene Essence Test...
DNA Paternity Testing Myths...
Test Teh DNA Lolcat...
Please note that comments left using the form below will be publicly displayed. If you'd like to correspond with me privately, please email me at hsien@eyeondna.com.
If your comment doesn't show up immediately, it's probably in moderation. I will approve it as soon as I can! Thanks for your patience.
11 Comments »
Note: Posting will be sporadic while I'm on maternity leave through July 2008
Search Eye on DNA
- What does DNA mean to you? #12
- Geeky DNA T-Shirt: XX Chromosomes
- What does DNA mean to you? #11
- DNA Excerpt: Bringing Home the Birkin
- What does DNA mean to you? #10
- My Newest Genetics Experiment
- DNA Video: DNA Replication by The Backrow
- DNA Quote: Sir William Bragg on Science
- What does DNA mean to you? #9
- DNA Video: Illumina on Wallstrip
MOST POPULAR
- DNA Toys: Ben 10 and Digimon Digivice
- 100 Facts About DNA
- Want a job? Submit your DNA
- 5 Cool Things You Can Do With Your DNA
- Salaries for Jobs in Genetics
- New Line Genetics and SellMyDNA.com Offer $5,000 for Your DNA
- Highlights from the MedHelp Genetics Forum: BRCA Genetic Testing
- Books About DNA: Abraham's Children by Jon Entine
- How to Prepare Yourself for a Genetic Test
- DNA Direct Unveils New Genetics Forum at MedHelp
- Want a job? Submit your DNA
07/04/2008 11:57 pm
13 Comments - Fetal Gender DNA Tests Answer Common Pregnancy Question…Or Not
07/04/2008 11:50 pm
5 Comments - 100 Facts About DNA
07/04/2008 11:39 pm
34 Comments - Salaries for Jobs in Genetics
07/02/2008 06:22 am
61 Comments - Sodium Benzoate and Vitamin C in Soft Drinks Damage Mitochondrial DNA
06/30/2008 01:14 pm
20 Comments - Business of DNA
- DNA @ Google Answers
- DNA and Disease
- DNA and Genealogy
- DNA and the Law
- DNA Around the World
- DNA Fun
- DNA in General
- DNA Inventions and Gadgets
- DNA Lab Talk
- DNA Podcasts and Videos
- DNA Quotes and Excerpts
- DNA Testing
- Gene Therapy
- Genetic Engineering
- Genetically Modified Foods and Organisms
- Jobs Involving DNA
- Personalities with DNA
- Polls About DNA
RECENT POSTS
RECENT COMMENTS
CATEGORIES
ARCHIVE
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
RANDOMIZED BLOGROLL
- Diabetes Notes
- Baldiness
- Genomics Revolution
- Women’s Bioethics Blog
- Dream Mom
- The force that through…
- Gene Sherpa
- QUEST Science Blog
- AIDS Combat Zone
- The Inoculated Mind
| We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. |
What about Brian Meehan of DNA Security studying the DNA in the Duke Lacrosse team “rape” case, finding 5 separate individuals’ DNA in the panties but none matching any of the Duke Lacrosse players and not disclosing their findings. That fact eventually broke the case, destroyed the DNA Security company, and disbarred the District Attorney.
Great example, Guy. Human error, deliberate or accidental, plays a role even when it’s something that should be definitive like DNA tests.
I realized the Meehan example is not like a person falsifying his own DNA. My point is not to have 100% certainty in DNA results reported by humans, because human error deliberate or accidental can give false information.
Absolutely, Guy. Totally agree with you. Thanks for the comments!
Hsien,
Sounds more and more like Gattaca every day.
-Steve
http://www.thegenesherpa.blogspot.com
Steve, Only without the beautiful people….
Security specialist Bruce Schneier recently wrote about the stolen fingerprints of a German Minister, where he referred back to a Biometrics article from 10 years ago:
http://www.schneier.com/crypto-gram-9808.html#biometrics
The last paragraph is a perfect summary. Basically, biometrics are not secrets, and are only useful when there is a trusted path from reader to the verifier.
In all except the Granada saliva case, there is a clear breakdown of the trust path between the reader and the verifier.
Clinton, I used to think that chain-of-custody DNA testing was as good as it can get but clearly, humans can be duped at any step along the way. Thanks for the link. I remember reading about the stolen fingerprints. Nuts.
Hsien,
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
-Steve
http://www.thegenesherpa.blogspot.com
Great post!
Thanks, Alan! Nice to see you here.