DumbSwede's Journal: DNA Incrimination by Extrapolation

Rejected from AskSlashdot, but maybe I can get a small discussion started here.

DNA Incrimination by Extrapolation

Part of the identification and capture of the BTK Killer was by the use of his daughter's DNA. I have heard various conflicting reports of how the DNA was obtained or identified as being of interest, but it was almost certainly provided freely. I know of no law however, prohibiting the FBI or any other law agency from determining family ties from databases of DNA from convicted criminals or obtained in other legal ways. One could envision a future in which a large percentage of the population could be identified by DNA means without ever directly providing a sample. Are we on the edge of a slippery slope, and will this practice if allowed, unfairly target minorities since there would be a larger percentage of DNA profiles to extrapolate from? How does this square with the 5th Amedment?

Good points

[Frisky070802]

Too bad it was rejected ... I think it was worthy of discussion.

To answer the question, it brings a new meaning to the term "guilt by association"! From a civil rights standpoint, it seems clear that this is a slippery slope we should avoid falling down. Yet there's still this piece of me that says that it's mostly the guilty who have to fear such databases. Is it time for me to turn in my ACLU card?