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DNA in the Courtroom By: Marcelina Espinosa Block 1,2.

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Presentation on theme: "DNA in the Courtroom By: Marcelina Espinosa Block 1,2."— Presentation transcript:

1 DNA in the Courtroom By: Marcelina Espinosa Block 1,2

2 Summary 1. What is DNA? 2.Genetics 3.Genetics Are Unique 4.DNA used to Exonerate Someone 5. Genetics are used to Convict Someone 6.A story that proved Forensic worked 7. How does Forensics Identification Work? 8.Some Examples of DNA Uses for Forensic Identification 9. Is DNA effective in identifying someone? 10. What are some of the DNA technologies used in Forensic Investigations?

3 What is DNA? DNA is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms. DNA is often compared to a set of blueprints,it contains the instructions needed to construct other components of cells, such as proteins and RNA molecules. The DNA segments that carries this genetic information are called genes.

4 Genetics is the area of biological study concerned with heredity and with the variations between organisms that result from it. It demands an understanding of numerous terms, such as DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), a molecule in all cells that contains blueprints for genetic inheritance; genes, units of information about particular heritable traits, which are made from DNA; and chromosomes, DNA-containing bodies, located in the cells of most living things, that hold most of the organism's genes. DNA is Used to Exonerate Someone

5 DNA in the Courtroom

6 DNA Chart on a Family History

7 Genetics Genetics deals with heredity, especially the mechanisms of heredity transmission and the variation of inherited characteristic's among similar or related organisms. Genetics is determined by your parents genes. Their genes determined what you are if your a male or a female. You will see how people are applying genetic science is by: fighting diseases,develop new products solve crimes and even clone humans

8 Genetics are Unique in so many ways and determines the human traits like: Eye color Hair Color Height Sexism Blood type Skin color Personal characteristics Genes One of a kind

9 DNA is used to Exonerate Someone

10 Genetics are used to Convict Someone Among the areas in which genetics is applied is forensic science, or the application of science to matters of law specifically, through "DNA fingerprinting," whereby samples of skin, blood, semen, and other materials can be used to prove or disapprove a suspect's innocence. Another fascinating application of genetics is the Human Genome Project, an effort whose goals include the location and identification of every gene in the human body.

11 Clip of Latent Fingerprinting

12 Some Views of Finger Prints

13 How does Forensic Identification work? Any type of organism can be identified by examination of DNA sequences unique to that species. To identify individuals, forensic scientists scan 13 DNA regions, or loci, that vary from person to person and use the data to create a DNA profile of that individual (sometimes called a DNA fingerprint) There is an extremely small chance that another person has the same DNA profile for a particular set of 13 regions.

14 Some Examples of DNA Uses for Forensic Identification Identify potential suspects whose DNA may match evidence left at crime scenes Exonerate persons wrongly accused of crimes Identify crime and catastrophe victims Establish paternity and other family relationships Identify endangered and protected species as an aid to wildlife officials (could be used for prosecuting poachers) Detect bacteria and other organisms that may pollute air, water, soil, and food Match organ donors with recipients in transplant programs Determine pedigree for seed or livestock breeds Authenticate consumables such as caviar and wine

15 Is DNA effective in identifying someone? Consider the scenario of a crime scene investigation... Assume that type O blood is found at the crime scene. Type O occurs in about 45% of Americans. If investigators type only for ABO, finding that the "suspect" in a crime is type O really doesn't reveal very much. If, in addition to being type O, the suspect is a blond, and blond hair is found at the crime scene, you now have two bits of evidence to suggest who really did it. However, there are a lot of Type O blonds out there. If you find that the crime scene has footprints from a pair of Nike Air Jordans (with a distinctive tread design) and the suspect, in addition to being type O and blond, is also wearing Air Jordans with the same tread design, you are much closer to linking the suspect with the crime scene. In this way, by accumulating bits of linking evidence in a chain, where each bit by itself isn't very strong but the set of all of them together is very strong, you can argue that your suspect really is the right person.

16 What are some of the DNA technologies used in forensic investigations? Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) RFLP is a technique for analyzing the variable lengths of DNA fragments that result from digesting a DNA sample with a special kind of enzyme. Mitochondrial DNA analysis (mtDNA) can be used to examine the DNA from samples that cannot be analyzed by RFLP or STR. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is used to make millions of exact copies of DNA from a biological sample. Short tandem repeat (STR) technology is used to evaluate specific regions (loci) within nuclear DNA. Y chromosomes Analysis The Y chromosome is passed directly from father to son, so analysis of genetic markers on the Y chromosome is especially useful for tracing relationships among males or for analyzing biological evidence involving multiple male contributors.

17 Things Done At A Crime Scene. The Initial Death Scene Examination Photograph Notifying the Medical Examiner Continuing the Search Fingerprint Evidence Expanding the Search Personal Information Curious Onlookers at the Scene

18 Definitions: 1 ) The Initial Death Scene Examination: It is basically when the cops and investigators inspect the surroundings of the crime like open doors, windows, lights off and on, on the floor for scratch marks, the body for bruises, ect. 2) Photographs: To take pictures of the crime scene, of the person, the surroundings, 3)Notifying the Medical Examiner: the detective or the supervisor on the scene should notify the medical examiner of the type of death case they are investigating 4)Continuing the Search:The search for strictly around the body

19 5)Fingerprint Evidence: Finding finger prints and making copys of it. 6)Expanding the Search: After the body is removed, the investigators should take the time to look at the remainders of the area. 7)Personal Information: Personal things about the victim like if he/she was in a relationship, what kind of relationship like abuse. drug or alcohol abuse, ect. 8)Curious Onlookers at the Scene: To see if the onlookers knew anything about the person and to protect the scene. 9)Evidence: Look for evidence around the scene that may help the investigation. 10)Finally: Bases on all of the searching and investigating they end the case. More Definitions

20 Does Anyone Know Who these two men are?

21 Sam Sheppard O.J. Simpson

22 A story that proved Forensic worked Since the late ‘80’s, DNA has been widely used in the courtroom. It was used as evidence in the 1995 O.J. Simpson trial. It was also used to clear deceased Sam Sheppard, who was accused of killing his wife in 1954, but claimed a “bushy-haired” man did it. A DNA test proved that the blood at the murder scene wasn’t Sheppard’s or his wife’s--meaning someone else was there! This story is similar to countless others: since the advent of DNA testing, dozens of wrongly- convicted men have been pardoned and released.

23 Innocence Project

24 Resources http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genomehttp://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome.com http://wwww.reachoutmichigan.orgfunexperiments/agessubjects.com http://www.answers.com/topic/genetics http://www.crime-scene- investigator.net/searchingandexamining.html


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