DNA Forensic Identification.ppt

DNA Forensic Identification Ashley Kowaleski I400 Objectives What is forensic science? How and when did forensics begin? When was DNA identification discovered? What is DNA identification used to determine? What exactly are forensic scientist looking for? What is the process does DNA identification involve? How are criminals processed? What is the outlook for the future? Forensic Science Process of gathering and examining evidence of a crime First practiced forensic medicine in 1958 Italy Application of medical knowledge to legal questions Unique Identifiers Fingerprints When a persons hand touched a surface, it left a barely visible mark Each person’s fingerprint is a unique identifier of that person, no two people’s are alike DNA Genetic material that is found in DNA is also a unique identifier Not until1985 when DNA became part of forensic science DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) Nucleic acid that carries the genetic information Double helix 2 long chains of nucleotides twisted and joined by hydrogen bonds Can be found in white blood cells Polymorphic: vary in shape from person to person DNA Identification Uses Investigations of criminal cases involving victims Assault Kidnapping Robbery Rape Murder Catastrophe victims Paternity/family relationships Identify endangered and protected species Detect bacteria/organisms that may pollute the air, water, food, and soil Match organ donors with recipients Determine pedigree for seed/livestock breeds Authenticate consumables such as caviar and wine Short Tandem Repeats (STR) STR regions are nucleotides along the backbone of a chromosome 13 markers used in forensic science Classified into groups depending on the size of the repeat regions Mini satellites Micro satellites The chance that any two peoples DNA fingerprint for a particular set of regions is exceptionally small 1/10th of a single % of DNA, about 3 million bp, differ from one person to the next The Process Isolation Quantifying Polymerase Chain Rea