Efforts to identify criminal suspects and the bodies of those killed during military combat and mass disaster have been greatly supported over the past two decades by the availability of databanks holding DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) samples and profiles obtained from known subjects. Such resources are made possible by scientific advances, legislative changes and substantial state investment. Although there is strong public support for these uses of genetic and information technologies, critics also argue that they also pose problems for individual liberties.