HOSA: Techniques of DNA Analysis

purines

Adenine and guanine are double-ringed nitrogen-containing compounds known as

pyrimidines

single-ringed nitrogen-containing (Thymine and cytosine)

Control region

In mDNA, the noncoding portion is located here

Locus

specific location of a gene on a chromosome

Allelic pair

a pair of alleles that make up a gene (each one is on a separate chromosome strange)

hair follicles, semen, saliva, blood (comes from WBCs)

Common sources of crime scene DNA

Polymorphism

variation in DNA molecules

Variable Number Tandem Repeats

when the same base sequence repeats throughout a locus

Chelex 100

Often use this for DNA extraction as it is cheaper and faster

Gel electrophoresis

Uses the electrical charge of DNA to analyze and classify it.

Was used in old forensic DNA analysis called

STR and SNP

What replaced gel electrophoresis

STR analysis with PCR (polymerase chain reaction)

Standard DNA testing

SNP Testing

DNA testing that can be used to differentiate between identical twins

Mitochondrial DNA

DNA that mutates rarely (unchanged from mother to you)

Found in places where nuclear DNA doesn't exist (especially in a very decayed body)

follicular bulbs

Nuclear DNA is found in this attached to hair

Heteroplasmy

existence of more than one mtDNA type in a single individual and at a particular base position

More in body so it's easier to apply PCR

Why is mtDNA preferred to test?

Revised Cambridge Reference Sequence

When mitochondrial DNA sequencing is used for genealogical purposes, the results are often reported as differences from this

Haplotype

genetic profile based on Y-STR

CODIS

The DNA equivalent of the AFIS

Karyotyping

Analysis of chromosomes