ELi5: How does DNA tests identify a person if that persons DNA is in no database?

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Say a crime has been committed, and the police find either blood or semen at the crime scene. However, the perpetrator has committed no prior crimes and therefore his DNA is in no database or registry. How are analyst able to find out who the perpetrator is through analyzing either the blood or semen found at the scene?

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Anonymous 0 Comments

Very unlikely, but not impossible. It possible to determine how closely related someone is to another using DNA comparisons and it is possible to obtain DNA from suspected criminals if the police have cause to suspect them.

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