Forensic Science in the Service of Society, Essay Example

DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic acid and was discovered in the mid-19^th century, after which, Oswald Avery discovered that DNA carries with it genetic code.  This revelation enhanced the use of DNA for crime scene forensics. Morris (2013) in his article on the DNA bill and its use of forensic science in the service of society notes that, ADNA enables humans with the ability to read the genetic code that shapes our bodies, and which defines us as individuals. Morris (2013) notes that, “the forensic application is not a complex one. It is simply the observation of a specific sequence of base pairs that allows us to unambiguously identify a single individual from the residual DNA found at a crime scene – the ‘DNA fingerprint’. The DNA database will enable us to compare traces of DNA from the crime scene to individuals who already have a criminal record and whose genetic data are stored in the database” (Morris, 2013). The author is keen to point out that one of the primary limitations of DNA in forensic science is that it is unable able to identify specific individuals that are not documented within the database. This is very different from what is promoted on shows like CSI, which depict DNA forensic technology as something that is capable of virtually anything. In reality, DNA forensics enables criminal justice professionals to identify repetitive offenders, but there is still room for improvement.

Population evolution and microbial life

The use and study of molecular biological methods to better understand the  ecology and diversity of microorganisms in their natural habitat has been carried out since the mid 1980’s. Since that time many new insights into the composition of uncultivated microbial communities have been gained. Whole groups of organisms that are only known from molecular sequences are now believed to be quantitatively significant in many environments. Molecular methods  have enabled the characterization of many organisms to that have been poorly understood to be better recognized through molecular biology which allows scientist to have a better understanding of evolution and microbial life. Distinctive understanding of bacteria and enhanced biotechnological processes, such as water treatment has enhanced the understanding of microbial life of Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya.

Biological diversity evolution

Biological diversity, otherwise known as biodiversity, represents the variability and variety of plants, animals micro-organisms on the planet. Biodiversity encompasses diversity of habitat, ecological factors, biological factors, considerations the ecosystem, and genetic. Biodiversity is important for the epistemology of biology as a whole because it serves as a primary resource for ecological goods that are essential to sustain life on Earth. These resources include water, oxygen production, and a sustainable nutrient cycle, assimilation of waste, water, air, and climate regulations regarding cleansing.  Biodiversity also provides ample stock of raw materials that can in turn be used to develop medicines, grow food, improve science and enhance technology.

Plant and animal evolution

Diamond (2002) notes that, “Plant and animal domestication is the most important development in the past 13,000 years of human history. It interests all of us, scientists and non-scientists alike, because it provides most of our food today, it was prerequisite to the rise of civilization, and it transformed global demography” (Diamond, 2002). The main ways plants and animals have evolved is through natural selection as man has influenced their growth by shaping their evolution in the way most beneficial to human biology and survival on this planet. A prime example of this can be seen how most wild dogs have died off while there has been a gradual push towards dogs that are cuter, or more capable of supporting the place of humans in society.

Population growth

Agricultural development ultimately influenced population growth, and due to the fact that human beings exploit resources and their surroundings the growth of the human population has a detrimental impact on the environment and the biological development of human beings as they are forced to evolve in a way that enables them to survive without certain rapidly decreasing resources.

Over 10,000 years ago, human beings had to hunt for their food, as this trend changed and food became more readily accessible over the past 500 years the population grew drastically. The growth can be seen in the above chart.

Biomes and ecosystems

Biomes and Ecosystems represent substantial regions of the planet where similar animals, plants, or other living things thrive through adapting to conditions of the area like the climate. The primary biomes that exist on earth are, tundra biomes, grassland biomes, aquatic biomes, and desert biomes. Biomes are not ecosystems despite the fact that in many ways they appear to be massive ecosystems. An ecosystem represents a community of organisms that interact within a physical environments and that a interconnected through some for o network. Biomes don’t interact with one another, but exists independently. Both biomes and ecosystems have provide sources of ample study for microbial life in certain environments.

References

Cremer, J., Melbinger, A., & Frey, E. (2012). Growth dynamics and the evolution of cooperation in microbial populations. Scientific reports, 2.

Diamond, J. (2002). Evolution, consequences and future of plant and animal domestication. Nature, 418(6898), 700-707.

Lyle, A. (2014). DNA forensics. BioWorld.1-12.

Morris, A. G. (2013). The DNA bill: Forensic science in the service of society. South African Journal of Science.