Below is a poor reproduction of an actual agarose gel used in a forensic analysi

Question

Below is a poor reproduction of an actual agarose gel used in a forensic analysis of DNA fingerprints. The leftmost lane contains the DNA from a bloodstain found at a crime scene and the right lanes contain DNA from seven suspects. Which suspect is likely the person who left the bloodstain at the crime scene?

The prosecution demonstrates beyond a reasonable doubt that only the perpetrator could have left the bloodstain at the scene. They also demonstrate that the matching suspect had motive, opportunity, and no alibi. There is substantial additional circumstanital evidence linking the matching suspect to the crime. Why did the jury find him innocent?

Explanation / Answer

a. From the agarose gel we can infer that Suspect 3 is likely the person who left the bloodstain at the crime scene.

b. It would be logical to infer that the suspect was found innocent by the jury despite all the evidences against him because he was the identical twin of the victim. Reason: Only identical twins have the same DNA and it is impossible to distinguish between the DNA profiling of identical twins. Since, it cannot be determined whether the bloodstain on the crime scene belonged to the victim or the suspect, hence the jury found the suspect innocent.

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