oa Comparative and International Law Journal of Southern Africa - A means of certain identification in the criminal law: the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) "fingerprint" test

Abstract

Genetic fingerprinting, as a discription, assumes, quite correctly, the accuracy of the test to equal that of the accuracy obtained by a conventional fingerprint identification. Even though the genetic fingerprint produced for Rapid Elimination Mass Screening (REMS) is a "cut-down" version of the original DNA profile proceedings, in a contradistinction to the tests for identification currently being applied, DNA fingerprinting and the REMS "cut-down" version of the original DNA profile proceedings, in contradistinction to the tests for identification currently being applied, DNA fingerprinting and the REMS procedure both, nevertheless, produce a virtually certain positive identification. The full introduction of this high-tech methodology into the South African legal system should not be delayed. Practical assessment and implementation is well under way internationally and South Africa may well wish to adjust to what seems to be the most significant development in forensic science this century.