DNA is a double-stranded molecule that contains information used to make up a person's body. DNA controls every aspect of a person's body from eye and hair color to height and other characteristics. The specific and unique characteristic of DNA can be crucial when solving a crime. DNA can be used to convict a suspect or exonerate an innocent person. When DNA is found, it is even more important that it is handled correctly to ensure correct identification and accurate testing. The evolution of DNA technology is vital to the crime-solving process, however the process by which DNA is found and handled can jeopardize its potency. The discovery of the structure of DNA opened the realm of DNA technology that changed the way crimes can be solved. To understand the importance of DNA in a crime, it was first necessary to reveal its structure. One of the most important discoveries in history was the discovery of the structure of DNA by Watson and Crick in 1953 (Liras, 2008). This amazing molecule contained genetic information that can be very useful in solving a crime. DNA is the basic unit of life. The molecule uses the arrangement of bases and forms into a double helix. This provision contains information and instructions for the development of the body. DNA defines each of our individual characteristics therefore making it truly unique. The “arrangement of these bases in each DNA molecule is different for everyone except identical twins” (Wilson, Foreman & Asplen, 1999) and this is key to the importance of DNA evidence. DNA is everywhere in the body and remains the same and this makes DNA a very important biological evidence. The individualistic trait is a key DNA characteristic that helps solve... middle of paper... fight crime, but funding sources can slow the process. If funding is not available to states to reduce current offender backlogs, databases will remain unavailable to assist law enforcement in criminal investigations. . It is up to the criminal justice system to realize the “full potential of DNA evidence as a crime-fighting tool” (Wilson, Forman, and Asplen 1999), efforts must be made both to resolve the current database backlog and to promote DNA use of evidence at all levels of law enforcement. As criminals get smarter, evidence like DNA becomes even more important. The discovery of DNA really helped solve crimes and proved to be crucial evidence. However it cannot be as powerful as it should if it is not handled or tested properly. DNA technology is still advancing and only time will reveal what will be available in the future.