Coughing, sneezing, talking, or just touching something, one way or another you leave traces of your DNA wherever you go.

DNA is unique to each of us, so it can be used to prove that a suspect was present at a crime scene. On a murder weapon DNA can be sufficient to secure a conviction. A clever criminal might be able to avoid leaving his fingerprints but he can't avoid leaving his DNA. Criminals will sometimes plead guilty when DNA evidence is against them because they understand the strength of it. This saves time and money for both the police and the justice system. It also saves victims and families the anxiety and distress of a long court case.

What is DNA?