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Discover the power of DNA fingerprinting as a tool used in criminal investigations and paternity cases. Learn how DNA holds the key to identifying individuals and solving mysteries. Explore the uniqueness of DNA and its role in forensic science.
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DNA The Golden Key of Forensic Evidence
DNA • Deoxyribonucleic Acid • Can be taken from cellular tissue or bodily fluids • Examples: hair, bones, blood, skin
DNA Fingerprinting Discovery • 1984 Professor Alec Jeffreys discovers DNA fingerprinting • 1985 DNA fingerprinting used for the first time to solve immigration and paternity cases • 1986 first criminal investigation to implement DNA fingerprinting evidence • 1992 DNA testing proves the innocence of Kirk Bloodsworth, who had spent two years on death row after being convicted of murder • 1992 identification of Josef Mengele by DNA analysis of skeletal remains
What is DNA Fingerprinting? • DNA holds the genetic instructions for all traits of an individual • Found in the cells of every living organism • Unique for each species and for each individual • Scientists examine the unique sections to find a match between evidence and a suspect, victim, or witness • Scientists take the DNA and make a “fingerprint” or picture for comparison
Why is a Person’s DNA Unique? • DNA is a unique sequence of nucleotides inherited from mother and father • Bases A, T, G, C • The base pairs carry codes for the traits of a particular species and individual • The order of these bases are different for every sexually fertilized egg