Case of the Missing Pathogens

1. Tyler Abel, Emily Arato, & Olivia Hoefling. Case of the Missing Pathogens

2. Story goes that… Dr. Doodles Donley was working on a new pathogen and had just made a break through in her research. The party, in honor of her hard work (not to mention her award as “scientist of the year,”) was the perfect time for a jealous enemy to strike and steal Doodle’s new discovery

3. The Party… Was going along smashingly. Everyone was having a fantastic time, but around midnight guests were asked to leave by Doodle’s herself. Guests had noticed her slurring her speech and said that she wasn’t, “herself,” but many believed it was due to too much fruit punch so they left in a hurry.

4. All of them… of course, except those who saw it as an opportunity for her downfall… Dr. Lazarus Dangerkitty, What was left behind at each crime scene was what helped unveil Dr. Doodle’s attacker.

5. Crime scene 1- The Lab Scene Dark hair from suspect #2 was left in the lab, as well as, fur from a white cat. Explanation: Suspect #2, Dr. Sloopy Stretch: “I was in the lab because I heard a ruccus of some kind, but then I got distracted by Dr. Rick E. Shaw telling me that Dr. Donley had gone ‘missing.’”

6. How the Hair was Analyzed Hair analysis begins with taking two separate samples, one being hair from the crime scene, and the other a sample of DNA from the suspect. This is done to confirm that the suspect was at the crime scene at some point. The samples are then taken to a lab where the cells will be broken open and the DNA will be analyzed. The only problem with this is the hair may have become contaminated. It is more likely for that to occur if the hair fell out naturally and landed on a surface with other skin cells. If it was forcibly removed, there may still be tissue attached that can also be tested. If there are mixed DNA samples, the hair would have a lot more cells with one type of DNA than the contaminant’s type. Forensic scientists also use microscopes to visually compare hair. Length, shape, size, color, stiffness, curliness, and pigmentation make each hair unique to the individual it came from. Those characteristics can also tell the scientist what race the person is or if it was from an animal. If the root of the hair is club shaped, it fell out naturally. If violence occurred, the root will most likely look stretched or broken and may have tissue still attached. Since visual examination of hair is not always consistent and exact, it is not typically used for forensic cases.

7. Crime Scene 2- The Party Scene Among the mess left by the party goers was a glass that was tipped and has spilt a blue liquid. Along with a napkin and couple glasses with lip prints and fingerprints on them. (the prints belonged to Dr. Doodles and suspects #3)There was blood on the cutting board. Explanation: Dr. Red Walrus had asked Doodles for “drinks-harmless!” However, that is when he slipped the cyanide into her drink

8. About Lip Printing Lip print analysis is much like fingerprint analysis. In the forensics world, lip prints are accepted as a way of identifying an individual because, like fingerprints, there are no two alike unless from the same person. To confirm that a lip print matches one of an individual, computer’s can be used to match the similarities. If lipstick was used, they can test to see if it matches any lipstick the suspect may have to further confirm guilt.

9. Fingerprint Analysis A fingerprint is an impression left behind by the friction edges of a human finger, or rather the traces of an impression from the friction ridges of any part of a human hand. Fingerprints can generally be found (for example, on a crime scene) through the use of a reagent, a chemical agent for use in chemical reactions. There are several different types of reagent tests that can be used to develop fingerprints on a crime scene, such as Amido Black or Ninhyndrin. However, the most important part of fingerprints on a crime scene is the actual fingerprint analysis. Every human hand has raised ridges of skin on the inside surfaces of their hands and fingers called friction ridge skin. These friction ridges provide a gripping surface. There are two fundamental ways of identifying fingerprints; immutability and uniqueness. Immutability involves the fact that the friction ridge patterns on a person’s fingers does not change throughout their lifetime, which makes the ridge patterns completely unique to them no matter how old they are and how old the fingerprints are. Uniqueness involves the friction ridge detail that forms when a person is literally first starting to develop. No two friction ridge patterns are identical, even if both fingerprints are from the same human hand. Each friction ridge pattern on each finger is completely unique.

10. Crime Scene 3- Doodle’s Papers On the scene a news paper was found with an article ripped out. An insurance policy that seemed to be in the middle of being signed. It had blood on it that matched suspect #2. Also Doodle’s Diary was found, but had the bottom entries ripped off of it. Explanation: Once Dr. Stretch figured out what was going on, he rushed back into Dr. Doodles’ lab as she was signing the paper. However, at this moment both he and Dr. Doodles were attacked.

11. Crime Scene 4- Site of Attack What was left of the crime scene was a foot print that was 11.5 inches across. There was blood near the chest and her head. The blood found was a mixture of blood from suspect #3 and Doodle’s. There were also traces of skin tissue from suspect #3. Explanation: Dr. Red Walrus stabbed Dr. Donley and rushed off with the stolen research. Dr. Sloopy Stretch found Donley on the ground minutes later and called the cops. But in fear of being framed for the murder he fled the scene.

12. Blood Typing Blood can be used in many different ways to tell something about a person. Not only can it be used for DNA, but it also can be used to see what is in a person’s system at that time. Alcohol level as well as drug levels can be determined by just a small amount of blood. By using a form of chromatography, doctors and scientists can separate out the blood cells from liquid it was in to determine the ratio of blood to alcohol. Drug tests may be done to find other foreign contaminants. The type of blood a person has depends on what type, if any, of antigens are on the red blood cells. There are a couple of different ways to doing this. First, after the blood has been taken, it is mixed with antibodies that are against type A and B blood. If they stick together, it means that the antibodies reacted with one of the two types. If they don’t stick at all, then it is type O blood. In second way to determine blood type, the liquid part of the blood is mixed with blood that is known to be type A or type B. The antibodies in the blood will attack the opposite type of blood than itself. Type O blood will have both antibodies. There are over 600 types of blood but most are very rare.

13. Other Evidence Also found: • Article on biological terrorism through pathogens • Article on diabetes and biological weapons • Insulin producing cells

14. Donley’s Research Pathogens are microorganisms (any kind from bacteria, viruses, funguses etc) that cause diseases in host organisms. More often than not, once released, pathogens run rampage on all immune systems that can’t fight off the disease. The most detrimental epidemics in history stemmed from pathogens. Small Pox, The Black Plague, Bird Flu- are all examples of pathogenic diseases that have turned into tragic epidemics.

15. Conclusion Dr. Doodle’s Donley was attacked by Dr. Red Walrus. He wanted her research so that he could use it to create a pathogen that would wipe out any people who didn’t enjoy crawdad fights! That way, he would not only become “Scientist of the Year,” but also the best Crawdad trainer in the world! Unfortunately for him, and fortunately for Doodles his plans were foiled.