Forensic Science DNA Unit Test

What is the structure of DNA

Double Helix

What is the electronic database of DNA profiles in the U.S.?

CODIS (Combined DNA Index System)

What are the 4 steps of DNA fingerprinting?

1. Extraction

2. Restriction fragments

3. Amplification

4. Electrophoresis

Except for identical twins, no two people on earth have the same:

DNA

What are examples of biological evidence?

Saliva, semen, hair, blood, urine, skin

What are the four DNA base pairs?

Adenine, cytosine, thymine, guanine

List three uses for DNA.

Eliminate suspects, matching DNA from the crime scene, determine maternity, paternity, or relativity, identify human remains, or free falsely imprisoned individuals

Biological evidence is used in forensics for identification purposes biological evidence includes:

Blood, saliva, and urine

Genetic information is stored in molecules of DNA making up structures called:

Chromosomes

James Watson and Francis Crick received the 1953 Nobel Prize for their work on describing the structure of DNA—:

A double helix that resembles a twisted ladder

In the nucleus of most human body cells, there are:

23 pairs of chromosomes

The total amount of DNA in a cell, which is contained in chromosomes and mitochondrial, is called the human:

Genome

Within the non-coding sections of DNA, certain short sequences are repeated:

Multiple times

Molecular scissors that cut DNA at specific base sequences are called:

Restriction enzymes

The method of separating the molecules within an electric field, based on their size, is called:

Electrophoresis

A method used to rapidly make multiple copies of a specific segment of DNA is called:

PCR: (polymerase chain reaction)

repeating DNA sequences (2-5 pairs) with varying numbers of repeats between individuals is called:

STR (short tandem repeats)

What are the complementary pairs of DNA bases?

Adenine-Thymine

Cytosine-Guanine

Know what DNA STRs are, and their importance to genetic profiling.

an STR is a sequence of repeating bases in noncoding regions of DNA that are used in DNA profiling.

Know what a genome is.

all the DNA found in human cells

Know the general structure of the DNA molecule

DNA is composed of long repeating units (monomers) known as nucleotides.

Know why mtDNA (mitochondrial DNA) is important to genetic profiling.

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA or mDNA) is the DNA located in mitochondria and is passed down maternally.

Know the difference between nuclear DNA and mitochondrial DNA; where each is found, how each is inherited, and what each does.

Nuclear DNA is randomly taken half from a mother and the other half from a father. MtDNA is found in the mitochondria and is passed down maternally.

Know what PCR is, and what it is used for.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a technique used in molecular biology to amplify a single copy or a few copies of a segment of DNA.

Know the function of restriction enzymes in genetic studies.

a restriction enzyme is an enzyme produced chiefly by certain bacteria, having the property of cleaving DNA molecules at or near a specific sequence of bases.

Know how electrophoresis sorts different sections of DNA

Gel electrophoresis is used to separate macromolecules like DNA, RNA and proteins.

pedigree

A diagram that shows the occurrence of a genetic trait in several generations of a family.

How many core Codis Loci are there?

The FBI has published its thirteen core loci for the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) database.

Electropherogram, allelic ladder

One peak at a single locus: homozygous

Two peaks at a single locus: heterozygous