Extremely worrying

Monday, September 4 2006

Read this from a UK domestic news story:

“XX was traced when DNA from his sister, taken when she was arrested on an unrelated matter, was matched to samples taken at the time of the offences.”

STOP AND THINK what you just read.

This is beyond what I find is acceptable. It is one thing to search for a direct match but search around in the database for related matches is not right. The Police had a list of 40 suspects to contact. Or as the BBC TV reporter said ”only 40″ …

The Police found the perpetrator by third attempt. So how about the first two people that Police contacted? Do they have to prove their innocent? How about finding out that your own DNA is closely matched by a perpetrator?

Posted by lizze at 23:21
Filed in Uncategorized
6 Comments »

6 Responses to “Extremely worrying”

  1. Slim Says:
    September 5th, 2006 at 11:54

    Its not right, alright. BUT… now that they’ve caught the guy, and he himself admitting to the crime(s), its all good I think.

  2. capricorncringe Says:
    September 5th, 2006 at 23:20

    I’m gonna get slammed for this ..

    I don’t see anything wrong with it. Stop screaming and breathe. lol

    I didn’t read the entire story, but the excerpt that you posted made it seem like they did look for direct matches. Her DNA was in the database and came back on the search. DNA is a unique identifier, so if it came back as a partial match, it’s worth investigating because it means that a tiny percentage of people have similar DNA (meaning family) and police are on the right track with the investigation. It does not mean that my DNA could be a ‘close match’ with my boss’s DNA – only people who are related would be close matches with each other. It wasn’t her, but it did turn out to be her brother.

    Let the flames begin :D

  3. Slim Says:
    September 6th, 2006 at 13:12

    Lol, capriconrncringe hit the nail on the head there.

    I downloaded the Simple Life parody you linked me to, and LMFAO that was hilarious! ROTFLMFAO, one of the Paris Hilton doubles was a man =)). I can’t stop laughing! Awesome link you gave me :D

  4. Lizze Says:
    September 6th, 2006 at 23:45

    slim & capriconrncringe
    (I have been a plane most of the day so plz bare with me)

    It doesn’t justify the end. Scanning through other people’s DNA when there is not a direct match and get a list of 40 suspects to interview. Surely, not all these people are family related. The line has to be drawn somewhere. Would you want the knock on the door and have to prove your innocent cos they have found a partial match of your DNA?

    Sure its a good thing that the guy got caught. But this was done by violating other people privacy.

    Slim – that sad thing is … it is NOT a parody :)

  5. capricorncringe Says:
    September 7th, 2006 at 2:04

    I misunderstood you .. my bad. I thought they had a list of 40 suspects and *then* found the partial match. I didn’t realize that the 40 suspects were partial matches to the DNA. Ok, you win. This time :)

    I have another hot tip for you in your apartment search (because my former landlord just screwed me and didn’t even buy me dinner).
    When you find the place you want, make a list of everything that needs to be fixed or replaced. Insist that it be fixed or replaced before you move in. If it isn’t possible to fix something before you move in, then write it down and make sure that it is in the lease agreement you sign. I’m not sure what the laws are (and I’m too lazy to look it up at the moment), but if you can’t get it into the lease, then make the list, date it, give a copy to your landlord and keep a copy for yourself. If you can get the landlord to sign your list, that would be great. lol If not, send it registered mail so that they have to sign for it (that way you have proof if you need it later).

    I rented from an old man (hereafter known as “the cheap prick”) who wouldn’t fix anything. I asked him to fix my front door – no. I asked him to replace the linoleum in the bathroom because a big chunk of it fell off the sink – no. I asked him to clean the carpets – no. I asked him if I could paint – no.

    And now, the cheap prick won’t give me back my deposit. He sold the building to his son (who is not a cheap prick) and the son told me not to bother cleaning the place when I left. He said it in front of three other people. So I didn’t clean it and I didn’t clean the carpet. Now the cheap prick is saying the place was filthy and that’s why I can’t get my deposit. I’m PISSED (which I think in the UK might mean drunk, but I mean ANGRY AS THE WRATH OF GOD)! I also wish I knew the symbols to use so I could make a very angry face, but this will have to do :(
    I’ll talk to Son of the Cheap Prick and probably he’ll give me a break on my rent to make up for it or he’ll just give me the goddamn money – because he is a reasonable human being. But right now … I’m furious.

    Hope your flight was uneventful .. great pic, by the way!

  6. Slim Says:
    September 7th, 2006 at 17:08

    Oh… next time onward, I’m gonna read the WHOLE story before commenting on it :P

    Hope the trip was nice.

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