Intro:
In this project we were given a crime report which contained a timeline of events, a list of suspects and a murder weapon with two unidentified bloods. We used DNA fingerprinting to determine who's DNA was on the knife and dusted fingerprints to find more evidence against the suspects. We concluded that Nancy Normal was the murderer and Carelton Comet was the victim.
Content:
- Probability: likelihood that a particular event will occur
- Ink Chromatography: the process we used to determine the pen ink used to right the note. A dot of ink was put on a paper that was then put in isopropyl. We then saw how much the ink traveled on the paper. See the above presentation for pictures.
- Homozygous: term used to refer to an organism that has two identical alleles for a particular trait
- Heterozygous: term used to refer to an organism that has two different alleles for a particular trait
- Alleles: one of a number of different forms of a geneDominant: has power over the recessive traits
- Recessive: falls under dominant
- Co-dominant: when both alleles of a gene contribute to the phenotype of the organism
- Incomplete Dominant: situation in which one allele is not completely dominant over another
- Polygenic: trait controlled by two or more genes
- Segregation: separation of alleles during gamete formation
- Gene: sequence of DNA that codes for a protein and thus determines a trait.
- Genotype: genetic makeup of an organism
- Phenotype: physical characteristics of an organism
- Gel electrophoresis: is a laboratory method used to separate mixtures of DNA, RNA, or proteins according to molecular size
- DNA fingerprinting: a laboratory technique used to establish a link between biological evidence and a suspect in a criminal investigation
- Fingerprint lifting: the process of securing copies of fingerprints that are left at a crime scene
- Cross-matching blood: test that is performed to blood in order to determine the blood type
- Pedigree: the record of descent of an animal, showing it to be purebred
- Molarity: The unit of molarity is expressed in moles per kilogram. The formula for molarity is m = moles of solute / kilograms of solvent.
- Karyotyping: a test to identify and evaluate the size, shape, and number of chromosomes in a sample of body cells. Extra or missing chromosomes, or abnormal positions of chromosome pieces, can cause disorders ad problems within the person.
Reflection:
This project has been very lengthy and eye opening. The patterns in the DNA fingerprinting were very precise and showed matches between the suspects and two crime scenes. One other peak of ours was comparing the dusted finger print to the print found at the scene which was a direct match to Nancy Normal's. The pits of our projects were the blood typing lab which gave unreliable results and our chromatography testing; The inks bled together and formed a half circle at the top of the testing paper. As an individual I improved my ability to stay more focused and be more cooperative with my group members. Some areas that I still need to improve on are not talking to other groups while I am supposed to be doing my work and to find ways to be a more contributing member of my team through research and giving my ideas. All in all, this project was very informational and a great way to learn the concepts we were taught.