Forensic DNA profiling in the 21st century

During the past 14 years, DNA technology has undergone a remarkably rapid e volution from an exotic, slow, and extensive forensic method to a routine p ractice. Where a blood stain 2 centimeters across was once required, now an individual can be identified from the DNA recovered from a postage stamp o ra cigarette butt. Given the remarkable progress of DNA profiling technolog y, what can we expect in the 21st century? Several new technologies are on the horizon. These include capillary array electrophoresis, microchip capil lary electrophoresis, and mass spectrometry. These new methods will increas e the speed and genetic differentiation while dramatically lowering the cos t of DNA profiling. Speed and lower cost will facilitate the compilation of DNA databases thar:are currently under way in the United States and Europe as well as other industrialized countries. As these DNA databases grow, so ciety must balance the needs for law enforcement with privacy concerns.