Archive for November, 2011


The CSI Effect and Its Negative Impact on DNA Testing Practices

Filed Under: DNA Testing by dnatesting101 — 2 Comments
November 30, 2011

gtl csi effect 300x186 The CSI Effect and Its Negative Impact on DNA Testing Practices We all have our favorite crime shows on television. Whether it’s Crime Scene Investigation, Law & Order, Forensic Files, or NCIS, shows that include the process of forensics tend to draw a high viewership. These crime shows make the viewer wonder whether or not it is possible to commit such crimes and get away with it – and while some viewers may think it’s possible, it’s worth noting that the forensic practices you see in these shows are heavily exaggerated. These ‘fictional’ procedures distort viewers’ perception on the actual practice of forensic science, causing what is known as ‘The CSI Effect.’

What is The CSI Effect?

The CSI Effect, named after the show Crime Scene Investigation, is the idea that your favorite crime shows develop a false perception of how the forensic process works. For instance, in shows such as Law & Order and Crime Scene Investigation, DNA test results only seem to take an hour or a few hours when in reality, it can take days or weeks to get the results back, depending on which DNA testing facility is used. This distorted perception leads jurors to believe that cases are supposed to be handled the same way they view it on television.

What is the problem with The CSI Effect?

The problem is this: Not all viewers know fiction from reality. Most viewers begin watching these crime shows with no education on the forensic process – and since they know nothing about the topic, the ‘Hollywood’ fictional practices they see on these shows start to influence their perceptions.  Why is this a problem? Unfortunately, The CSI Effect contributes to false perceptions and can ultimately lead to a disaster in courtrooms, especially a courtroom where the jurors are heavy CSI and other crime show watchers.

The CSI Effect Case Studies

Here are a few cases that were influenced by The CSI Effect:

Robert Blake

Robert Blake 1 181x219 custom The CSI Effect and Its Negative Impact on DNA Testing Practices Actor Robert Blake was accused of murdering his wife, Bonnie Lee Bakley, in Blake’s car outside of a restaurant in 2001. Although the prosecutor presented over 70 witnesses that testified against Blake, the lack of being able to present clear-cut evidence (as most of the cases in CSI contain) led the jury to acquit Blake of all charges. According to the CBS News article:

It was prosecutor Shellie Samuels’ first loss in 50 murder cases. Though she presented more than 70 witnesses against Blake, she couldn’t show the jury blood evidence, or conclusive gun-shot residue.

Oregon District Attorney, Josh Marquis adds:

Jurors now expect us to have a DNA test for just about every case, they expect us to have the most advanced technology possible, and they expect it to look like it does on television.

 

Marina Calabro

Marina Calabro200 112x181 custom The CSI Effect and Its Negative Impact on DNA Testing Practices Marina Calabro was an elderly woman who was murdered by her nephew and his friends in 2001. The CSI Effect was evident as the suspects were heavy viewers of the crime show Forensic Files. As their infatuation with the show intensified, the boys came to the conclusion that it would be rather easy to commit murder and get away with it. A few days before Christmas, Marina’s nephew, Anthony Calabro, kept watch outside while his friends murdered the 84-year-old using techniques they learned from television. The boys made it look like she fell down the stairs by dragging the body to the stairs and placing a trash bag next to her.

The murder was ruled an accident until one of the boys’ friends went to the police upon hearing the story of how the crime happened.

Jermaine McKinney

mckinne 155x205 custom The CSI Effect and Its Negative Impact on DNA Testing Practices Jermaine McKinney broke into a home and murdered a mother and daughter. As a fan of the show Crime Scene Investigation, McKinney had implemented many tactics he had learned from the show, including using bleach to wipe the blood off of his hands as well as burning the bodies of the victims in the basement. McKinney even covered the inside of his car so that blood wouldn’t get transferred.

Although he was careful in his crime, McKinney had overlooked a few obvious things that his favorite show didn’t teach him.  McKinney was found guilty and received two life sentences.

The CSI Effect can have a negative impact on society’s perceptions. Are you a fan of crime shows? Which one is your favorite? Let us know below.

 

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Justin Bieber Takes a DNA Test to Prove He is Not the Father of 3-Month Old Tristyn

Filed Under: DNA Testing by dnatesting101 — 3 Comments
November 23, 2011
bieber 251x300 Justin Bieber Takes a DNA Test to Prove He is Not the Father of 3 Month Old Tristyn

Justin Bieber has taken a DNA test

Earlier this month, we wrote an article on Justin Bieber being accused of fathering a 3-month old baby after one of his performances. Bieber’s representatives have since denied allegations that the 17-year-old Canadian pop-star has had sexual intercourse with the accuser, Mariah Yeater. As the war intensifies, sources have learned that Justin Bieber has taken a DNA test at a private facility in New Jersey last Friday. According to RadarOnline, a source had this to say:

Justin took a DNA test on Friday night. The whole process lasted less than 10 minutes. It’s an extremely reputable facility, and there are surveillance cameras everywhere to ensure tests are done with integrity and can’t be compromised. Justin’s test should be processed and completed by the end of the week. It’s time for Mariah to put up or shut up, and submit the baby to a test.

The Power of a DNA test

The news that Justin Bieber would gladly take a paternity test to prove he is not the father of Mariah Yeater’s baby has caused Yeater and her legal team to drop the paternity suit altogether. In fact, Yeater’s original legal team has parted ways with her after the dropped action. However, Yeater will allow her baby to undergo DNA testing to see if there is indeed any match to Bieber’s DNA. Confident that he is not the father, Bieber’s team announced their intentions to sue Yeater for defamation of character after the test comes back negative:

We’ll vigorously pursue all available legal remedies to protect Justin and to hold those involved with bringing this suit accountable for their actions.

Although Bieber has taken a DNA test, Yeater’s legal team is claiming that it was done incorrectly due to the fact that a witness from Yeater’s team was not present, and therefore could not verify the legitimacy of the test. But as we wait for the results of Bieber and baby Tristyn’s DNA tests, the facts seem to suggest that Justin Bieber is NOT the father:

  • Justin Bieber willingly took a DNA test to prove he is not the father.
  • Mariah Yeater dropped her paternity suit against Justin Bieber.
  • Mariah Yeater asked friends to delete incriminating text messages.
  • Mariah Yeater’s first legal team dropped her stating that she was fabricating her stories.
  • Mariah Yeater accused her ex-boyfriend of being the father of the baby a year before the Justin Bieber accusation came forth.

Is there yet another side of the story? Is Justin Bieber the father or is Mariah Yeater making everything up in order to get rich quick? We will find out soon enough when the results come back. Until then, keep checking our DNA Testing blog for updates on this story as well as other news in the World of DNA.

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Nature versus Nurture: Powerful Stories of Reunited Twins

Filed Under: DNA Testing by dnatesting101 — Leave a comment
November 17, 2011

The concept of nature versus nurture has been debated in the psychology world for many years now. The idea of which has more impact on what makes an individual. Are our traits innate or do they manifest based on our environment?

Twin studies have offered influential research on the ongoing debate of nature versus nurture. Especially twins who have been separated at birth and reunited only to find that despite their circumstances and experiences, the similarities between the separated siblings are uncanny.

One of the most convincing studies comes from Dr. Thomas Bouchard, the man behind the Minnesota Study of Twins Reared Apart. The study was conducted in 1987 and found that twins raised in two different household had both intellectual and behavioral similarities.

Jim Spring and Jim Lewis

Jimtwins Nature versus Nurture: Powerful Stories of Reunited Twins

These two men found each other in 1979 after almost 40 years of separation. Many twins find incredible similarities in their twins but Jim and Jim had similarities that were borderline spooky!

  • Both men were named James by their adoptive parents and eventually would both go by “Jim.”
  • They both marriedTwins Reunited Jim Nature versus Nurture: Powerful Stories of Reunited Twins women named Linda.
  • Springs named his son “James Alan,” while Lewis named his son “James Allan.”
  • Both men eventually divorced their first wives to remarry women named “Linda.”
  • Their likes and dislikes were also similar. Both men drank Miller Lite, drove the same vehicle make and hated baseball.
  • Physical traits were also similar, with the same medical history and complications.

There are other twins who were reunited later in life and similarities were also found that can only be attributed to genetics and DNA.

Meredith Grace and Meredith Ellen

chinese twins reunited 300x184 Nature versus Nurture: Powerful Stories of Reunited TwinsIn 2007 to adopted twins from China, with a twist of fate, somehow found each other at the age of four. Reunions such as these are less common because it is rare for both adoptive parents to be willing to participate in a reunion. Many adopted children don’t learn that they were adopted until later in life as well.

Meredith Grace Rittenhouse and Meredith Ellen Harrington were adopted from an orphanage in Jiangmen City. Because their physical similarities were more subtle as babies, it is believed that the orphanage was unaware the babies were even twins. It was a DNA test that confirmed their were in fact twins.

chinese twins Merideth two 300x184 Nature versus Nurture: Powerful Stories of Reunited TwinsBoth girls were adopted by American parents and lived in adjacent states. And while they were separated, their parents explained that both constantly yearned for their sister.

Psychiatrists and scientists attribute the “magnetic” connection between twins to their DNA similarities. From a very young age, people are inclined based on their genetic makeup, towards particular things.

Which do you think has a larger impact on our individuality and traits, nurture or nature?

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Raise Awareness for National Adoption Month

Filed Under: DNA Testing by dnatesting101 — 1 Comment
November 10, 2011

motherchild adoption Raise Awareness for National Adoption MonthNovember is National Adoption Awareness month; this November marks the 21st Annual Adoption Conference in Brooklyn, NY. It is a time dedicated to raising awareness and educating others on adoption.

Adoption isn’t limited to newborns, there are children waiting to be adopted who are in the system until the age of 21. Here are some shocking numbers on children who grow up without parents:

  • More than 250,000 children in the US enter the foster care system every year.
  • More than 20,000 children age out of foster care without being adopted.
  • Almost 500,000 children are in the US still waiting to get a home.

It is important to raise awareness and improve sentiments behind adopting older children. These children need permanent, stable and loving environments but instead are passed around between foster homes until they age out.

Toby Dawson: A Great Story to Raise Awareness about Adoption

Toby Dawson, born Kim Bong-seok in Pusan South Korea is an inspiring adoption success story that has openly shared his journey to learning about his past and finding his birth parents.

Toby Dawson Adopted 300x206 Raise Awareness for National Adoption Month

Toby Dawson with his adoptive mother

Regardless of how much an adopted child loves and cherishes his adoptive parents, many are left with a deep need to search for their biological parents.

Toby Dawson, though of Korean ethnicity was adopted by an American couple from Colorado at the age of 3. Dawson would eventually grow to be a competitive Olympic athlete.

Dawson was found abandoned at a police station before he was adopted so his past left many questions unanswered. In 2007, after reaching out to the public about any information anyone may have about his background, a DNA test confirmed that Dawson’s birth father was a bus driver from Busan, South Korea.

DNA testing often helps by confirming genealogy and birth ancestry.

Children and Foster Care

There are a variety of organizations that work to promote and educate adoption:

Celebrities Make Adoption “Trendy”
At the end of the day, any promotion of welcoming orphaned or parentless children into a loving home is positive. But many celebrities adopting international newborns causes the neglect of older children.
Kirsten Davis Adopts Raise Awareness for National Adoption Month

Kirsten Davis

angelina jolie adoption 300x300 Raise Awareness for National Adoption Month

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt

katherine heigl adopts 300x250 Raise Awareness for National Adoption Month

Katherine Heigl

sandra adopts louis 300x207 Raise Awareness for National Adoption Month

Sandra Bullock and Baby Louis

Spend this month thinking about what you can do to learn more and help children in foster care!

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Justin Bieber Lost Virginity & Fathered 3 Month Old Son?! PHOTOS

Filed Under: DNA Testing by dnatesting101 — 3 Comments
November 2, 2011

Teen idol, Justin Bieber, is being accused of losing his virginity and fathering a baby boy with twenty year old fan, Mariah Yeater, after his performance at the Staples Center last October. Mariah Yeater filed official court papers against Bieber on October 31st, 2011 and is demanding that Bieber take a paternity test to prove his relationship to her baby boy.

mariah yeater justin bieber 300x225 Justin Bieber Lost Virginity & Fathered 3 Month Old Son?! PHOTOS

justin bieber baby mariah yeater son star magazine 221x300 Justin Bieber Lost Virginity & Fathered 3 Month Old Son?! PHOTOS

Photo of Justin Bieber's alleged baby and Mariah Yeater in Star Magazine

See the scandalous details in Yeater’s shocking affidavit statement below:

After meeting Bieber backstage, Yeater claims, “Immediately, it was obvious that we were mutually attracted to one another, and we began to kiss. Shortly thereafter, Justin Bieber suggested that I go with him to a private place where we could be alone. I agreed to go with him and on the walk to a private area, he told me he wanted to make love to me and this was going to be his first time.”

This “private place” was reported to be a bathroom nearby. “We went inside and immediately his personality changed drastically. He began touching me and repeatedly said he wanted to (expletive) the (expletive) out of me. At the time I asked him to put a condom for protection, but he insisted that he did not want to. In his own words, he said that because it was his first time he wanted to feel everything. He was on top of me with my legs around him. At the time I was on top of some type of shelf. The sexual intercourse itself was brief, lasting only approximately 30 seconds.”

justinbieber mariahyeater pregnant 256x300 Justin Bieber Lost Virginity & Fathered 3 Month Old Son?! PHOTOS

Did Justin Bieber get Mariah Yeater pregnant behind Selena Gomez's back?

Is Justin Bieber Really the Father?!

Although it seems that the next step will undoubtedly be a DNA paternity testfor Justin Bieber, Bieber’s reps are currently denying allegations. “While we haven’t yet seen the lawsuit, it’s sad that someone would fabricate malicious, defamatory, and demonstrably false claims. We will vigorously pursue all available legal remedies to defend and protect Justin against these allegations” according to Bieber’s reps.

Justin has not said much about the rumors so far, but Jimmy Fallon spoke for him when he performed (It’s Not My) Baby on the Late Night with Jimmy Fallon show this week.

More Photos of Mariah Yeater:

mariah yeater pregnanct by justin bieber 300x225 Justin Bieber Lost Virginity & Fathered 3 Month Old Son?! PHOTOS  298557 102124436568825 100003138065812 10606 170503787 n 300x223 Justin Bieber Lost Virginity & Fathered 3 Month Old Son?! PHOTOS

justin bieber father mariah yeater son 300x225 Justin Bieber Lost Virginity & Fathered 3 Month Old Son?! PHOTOS

Photo of Mariah Yeater- in a bathroom! The same Place she allegedly got pregnant by Justin Bieber.

Mariah Yeater and Statutory Rape Charges:

Justin Bieber was only 16 at the time of the reported sexual relations. California’s age of consent is 18. If Justin Bieber is in fact the father of this child, that would mean Mariah Yeater committed statutory rape.

California defense lawyer, Steve Cron, told the New York Post: “Under a normal situation, no harm, no foul … I would think [prosecutors] might let it go. But under these circumstances, the DA’s office has to show they’re not treating women differently, not treating a celebrity differently, [and] they might have to do something.”

Do you believe Justin Bieber cheated on star girlfriend Selena Gomez and is the father of Mariah Yeater’s son? Should Mariah Yeater be punished for statutory rape if her story is, in fact true? Share your thoughts below! 

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