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

Most likely, someone in their close family has DNA in the system, either from a previous encounter with the law or from submitting to a DNA test from a company that shares information with law enforcement. Say your father took a test and the police have your DNA sample. They see that he is a 50% match, so they have limited their likely suspects to his parents, siblings and children already.

On a related note, don’t do a 23andMe or similar. They have been shown to give inaccurate results and then everyone related to you is traceable.

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