DNA Profiling

Question 1

allele

Answer 1

an alternative form of a gene

Question 2

chromosome

Answer 2

nuclear cell structure that contains DNA

Question 3

Combined DNA Index System
(CODIS)

Answer 3

the FBI’s computerized criminal DNA databases including the software used in these databases; includes the National DNA Index System (NDIS)

Question 4

DNA

Answer 4

the genetic material of all living things

Question 5

DNA Phenotyping

Answer 5

the process of predicting the physical appearance and ancestry of an unknown person from their DNA

Question 6

DNA Profile
(fingerprint)

Answer 6

pattern of DNA fragments obtained by analyzing a person’s unique sequences of non coding DNA

Question 7

DNA Profiling

Answer 7

a technique used to identify a person based on analysis of their genetic code

Question 8

electrophoresis

Answer 8

a method of separating molecules, such as DNA, according to size

Question 9

exon

Answer 9

portion of gene that is expressed

Question 10

familial searching

Answer 10

using CODIS and state databases to search for relatives of unknown persons or offenders

Question 11

forensics genealogy

Answer 11

using both CODIS and public databases to identify a subject by comparing their DNA to one or more family members

Question 12

gene

Answer 12

basic unit of heredity; a sequence of DNA that codes for proteins or regulation of proteins

Question 13

human genome

Answer 13

all the DNA found in a cell

Question 14

homologous chromosomes

Answer 14

are those with similar size, shape, and contain genes that code for the same traits

Question 15

intron

Answer 15

portion of a gene that is not expressed

Question 16

karyotype

Answer 16

a picture of the paired homologous chromosomes in a cell

Question 17

kinship

Answer 17

closely related individuals

Question 18

nucleotide

Answer 18

the basic unit of DNA consisting of a sugar, phosphate group, and base

Question 19

polymer

Answer 19

a long molecule composed of similar repeating units

Question 20

polymerase chain reaction
(PCR)

Answer 20

a method of amplifying tiny amounts of DNA evidence for use in investigations

Question 21

polymorphism

Answer 21

region of repeating DNA within an intron that is highly variable from person to person

Question 22

primer

Answer 22

a starting sequence added to trigger replication of a specific section of DNA

Question 23

short tandem repeats
(STRs)

Answer 23

sequence of repeating bases in no coding regions of DNA that are used in DNA profiling

Question 24

single nucleotide polymorphism
(SNP)

Answer 24

a type of genetic variation where one nucleotide is substituted for another

Question 25

STR markers

Answer 25

a gene or DNA sequence with a known location on a chromosome