Did you know that scientists have created artificial DNA? Just for the record, that's only one step away from inserting the DNA into a cell and bringing it to life. However, this area of research is still in it's infancy so we won't have any soulless synthetic human puppets for very much longer a long time.

Most recently, the synthesis of a meager 500,000 base pair bacterial genome was explained in detail by the researchers at the J. Craig Venter Institute. The size of the bacterial genome pales in comparison to our hulking 3 billion base pair human genome of champions but it's a step in the right direction. Naturally, stepping in said direction is a cause for bioethical concern but I'm more interested in the new possibilities for biocrime!

It has been 20 years since DNA evidence was first admitted in court which lead to a death sentence. Similarly, it has been a recurring plot device for television crime drama for just as long. Being exposed to such shows, today's criminals know better than to leave saliva, blood, or semen at the scene of a crime if they can help it. Although, with the advent of synthetic DNA, bodily fluids may be making an unexpected comeback...

Everyone knows that planting DNA evidence like hair or fingernail clippings is a straight forward way to frame someone for a crime they didn't commit, but let me walk you through a more intriguing scenario:

1. Almost half a billion DNA profiles of offenders are contained in the FBI's CODIS National DNA Index.
2. A crooked cop or hacker mastermind leaks criminal DNA profiles to the internet. 
3. A regular joe (RJ) obtains a DNA profile of regular criminal (RC) on parole in his area.
4. RJ has DNA synthesized en masse and inserted into cells by a private lab.
5. RJ commits his crime of choice, stealing a rhubarb pie from a windowsill, without leaving any trace of his own DNA (easier said than done).
6. The forged DNA is left at the scene of the crime.
7. Forensic scientists find a direct DNA match with RC using the CODIS National DNA Index.
8. Assuming RC has no significant alibi, he is considered a repeat offender and found guilty of grand theft pastry.
9. RJ, pretty hungry at this point, consumes pie and sends an anonymous thank-you card to J. Craig Venter Institute without ever having made contact with RC.

This scenario may seem far fetched but it's undeniable that the validity of DNA evidence relies on the fact that people assume DNA cannot be tampered with. Much like the questionable admissibility of digital photography and digital video in court due to computer forgery, DNA evidence will one day be under high scrutiny.