DNA in Forensics

1. DNA in Forensics News and Stats

2. DNA LAB • Grab a cup- DON’T SPILL and don’t drink until lab starts. • Put liquid in mouth and swish (suck on cheeks for best results)- Spit back into cup. • Pour into test-tube. THROW CUP AWAY! • Add 5 drops soapy water. Invert slowly. DON’T SHAKE! • Add ice cold ethanol down side of the tube. • DON’T SHAKE and watch DNA float to surface. • Collect and save if you get a good sample.

3. 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

4. Super Bowl XXXIV footballs • The NFL used DNA technology to tag all of the Super Bowl XXXIV balls • The footballs were marked with an invisible, yet permanent, strand of synthetic DNA. • The DNA strand is unique and is verifiable any time in the future using a specially calibrated laser.

5. Kennewick Man • Remains discovered in the Pacific Northwest. • His ancient remains have caused problems because of competing claims for the remains by Native American groups, public officials, and scientists. • Bones found in the United States that predate the arrival of Europeans are by law considered Native American, but the bones of Kennewick Man show characteristics different from Native Americans of that time period. • DNA testing will be used to determine if Kennewick Man's DNA is similar to that of other Native Americans.

6. 2000 Summer Olympic souvenirs • A section of human genetic code taken from several unnamed Australian athletes was added to ink used to mark all official goods everything from caps to socks from the 2000 Summer Olympic Games. • The technology is used as a way to mark artwork or one-of-a-kind sports souvenirs.

7. Angiosperm Witness for the Prosecution • A young woman was murdered in Phoenix, Arizona, and a pager found at the scene of the crime led the police to a prime suspect. • He admitted picking up the victim, but claimed she had robbed him of his wallet and pager. • The forensic squad examined the suspect's pickup truck and collected pods later identified as the fruits of the paloverde tree (Cercidium spp.). • One detective went back to the murder scene and found several Palo Verde trees, one of which showed damage that could have been caused by a vehicle. • A preliminary study on samples from different trees at the murder scene and elsewhere quickly established that each Palo Verde tree is unique in its DNA pattern. • Linked the pods from the suspect's truck to the damaged tree at the murder scene and obtain a conviction.

8. Disappeared Children in Argentina • Numerous people (known as "the Disappeared") were kidnapped and murdered in Argentina in the 1970s. • Many were pregnant. Their children were taken at birth and, along with other young kidnapped children, were raised by their kidnappers. • The grandparents of these children are now looking for them.

9. Innocence Project • The Innocence Project is a national litigation and public policy organization dedicated to exonerating wrongfully convicted people through DNA testing and reforming the criminal justice system to prevent future injustice.The Innocence Project was founded at Benjamin N. Cardozo in 1992 • Became an independent nonprofit organization (still closely affiliated with Cardozo) in 2004. • Since the organization’s founding, more than 250 people have been exonerated through DNA testing in the United States • (17 who were at one time sentenced to death.)

10. OJ • OJ Simspon’s case is significant because of the large amounts of blood and DNA evidence at a crime scene • OJ was found innocent of murdering ex-wife Nicole Brown and friend Ron Goldman

11. OJ- The evidence • Blood drops at the scene matched OJ • One analysis showed 1 in 57 billion chance someone else could have that blood • Passive patterns match OJ’s cut on hand • Bloody fingerprint on gate • Blood on OJ’s sock from Nicole Brown • Size 12 Bruno Magli bloody shoe prints all over scene • Blood in OJ’s vehicle

13. With all the evidence, why was he found innocent? • Blood drops at the scene matched OJ • Blood missing from vial they took from OJ • Passive patterns match OJ’s cut on hand • Experts argued that the drops were too big to leak out of the cut on his hand • Bloody fingerprint on gate • Put on notes but not lifted and put into evidence • Blood on OJ’s sock from Nicole Brown • Could have occurred at another time???? (weaksauce) • Size 12 Bruno Magli bloody shoe prints all over scene • So were every other investigators… • Also, several pieces of evidence examined by officials were not logged on the evidence bags (chain of custody) and ones that were logged went missing!?!?!

14. THE LESSON…. • Chain of custody is IMPORTANT • You MUST secure the crime scene • Photographic and logs of evidence is CRUCIAL • Contamination of evidence is EASY so you must use TOTAL CARE in collecting evidence