Keyohn Lu

How can CRISPR-Cas technology improve forensic DNA analysis by overcoming the limitations of traditional DNA profiling methods in criminal investigations?

Started Apr. 27, 2026

Abstract or project description

Current forensic DNA analysis plays an essential role in criminal investigations, but existing DNA profiling methods have several limitations that reduce their effectiveness. Traditional forensic testing often requires high-quality DNA samples, expensive laboratory equipment, and multiple time-consuming processing steps. In many criminal investigations, biological evidence collected at crime scenes is degraded, contaminated, or too limited for successful DNA analysis. Because of these limitations, investigators are sometimes unable to identify suspects, causing many criminal cases to remain unsolved.

This research project will focus on understanding the weaknesses of current forensic DNA analysis methods and why these limitations create major challenges for criminal investigations. The project will examine how factors such as poor DNA quality, lengthy laboratory procedures, and high testing costs can prevent investigators from obtaining accurate forensic evidence quickly enough to support ongoing investigations.

The primary focus of this research will then shift toward CRISPR-Cas technology as a possible solution to these problems. CRISPR is a gene-editing technology that can target specific DNA sequences with extremely high precision. This project will explore how CRISPR-based forensic methods may improve DNA detection accuracy, reduce testing time, lower costs, and allow scientists to analyze smaller or degraded DNA samples that traditional methods cannot process effectively. The overall goal is to evaluate whether CRISPR technology has the potential to improve forensic science and help solve criminal cases more efficiently than current DNA profiling methods.