DNA and You

Some politicians and police would like all New Zealanders to have their DNA on a national database, but civil libertarians would debate that ... if all of us have our DNA available to be matched to a crime scene sample, could it lead to innocent people being jailed?

– Narrator Joel Tobeck, near the end of this documentary

The role of the DNA evidence is to provide a link between a biological material and a person — and when that link's made, then it's for the court to decide whether or not that implies a crime has been committed or not.

– Forensic scientist SallyAnn Harbison

I think DNA technology is the next I.T. I think it's the area — biotechnology is going to take off. I think if there's one area where New Zealand could have an impact, and New Zealand could have new industries and new wealth, it's in the area of biotechnology.

– DNA expert David Saul

People believe that we can do an awful lot more with DNA than we're actually capable of doing, or we have any desire to do.

– DNA expert David Saul, at the end of this documentary

The possibility of DNA databases allow us to check everybody, for whether or not they are responsible, whether or not we have grounds for actually thinking it was them. So you've now got a possibility that you can go on fishing expeditions — without actually having reason for thinking it is this person....

– Medical ethicist Jan Crosthwaite on the potential dangers of DNA databases, early in this documentary