Lecture 13: DNA Analysis Flashcards

1
Q

Who discovered the configuration of the DNA molecule?

A

James Watson and Francis Crick in 1953

Rosalind Franklin contributed to the discovery through her X-ray diffraction work.

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2
Q

What is DNA fingerprinting and who developed it?

A

developed by Alec J. Jeffrey in 1984 by isolating DNA markers

He was studying the gene of myoglobin.

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3
Q

Who won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1962?

A

James Watson and Francis Crick

They were awarded for their discovery of the DNA structure.

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4
Q

What significant technique did Kary Mullis develop in 1985?

A

polymerase chain reaction testing

PCR stands for Polymerase Chain Reaction.

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5
Q

When did the FBI start DNA casework?

A

1988

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6
Q

What does DNA stand for?

A

Deoxyribonucleic acid

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7
Q

What are the four types of bases in DNA?

A
  • A (adenine)
  • C (cytosine)
  • G (guanine)
  • T (thymine)
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8
Q

What is the base-pairing rule for DNA?

A
  • Adenine (A) binds with Thymine (T)
  • Cytosine (C) binds with Guanine (G)
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9
Q

What is a chromosome composed of?

A

Genes with DNA made up of 2 strands of polymers of nucleotides

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10
Q

How many base pairs are in the human genome?

A

Approximately 3 billion

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11
Q

What is the probability of two different people having the same DNA profile?

A

1 in 113 billion

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12
Q

What are the two types of repeating DNA sequences looked for by forensic scientists?

A
  • Variable Number Tandem Repeats (VNTRs): 6-100 base pairs
  • Short Tandem Repeats (STRs): Short sequences of 2-6 bases
  • Analyzed for tissue and inheritance matching
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13
Q

What is a polymorphism in DNA?

A
  • Variations in length or base sequence
  • Due to point mutations, insertion/deletion mutations
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14
Q

What is the advantage of using STRs over VNTRs in DNA profiling?

A
  • Shorter lengths
  • Less time required
  • Smaller sample size needed
  • Less susceptible to degradation
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15
Q

What is the minimum amount of DNA required for optimal DNA profiling?

A

1 ng (10-9 g)

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16
Q

How can DNA evidence be contaminated?

A
  • Sneezing or coughing on evidence
  • Touching face and then evidence
  • Scene personnel deposition of trace materials
  • Wind carrying contaminants
17
Q

What is the role of PCR in DNA analysis?

A

It acts as a DNA photocopier

DNA collected from SOC are in a minute amount, insufficient for DNA fingerprinting

18
Q

What is gel electrophoresis used for?

A
  • Electric current sorts DNA molecules by size
  • Smaller/lighter molecules move the furthest on the gel
  • Measures the number of DNA repeats
19
Q

How many core STR loci does the FBI use in DNA profiling?

A

13 core STR loci + 7 additional

The greater the number of STR loci is used on a
DNA fingerprint, the greater the accuracy of the
DNA fingerprint.

20
Q

What are the advantages of using mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)?

A
  • Single-cell sensitivity
  • Establishing kinship (complement of
    mtDNA is maternally inherited)
  • Analyzing shed hairs and burnt remains
21
Q

What are some disadvantages of using mitochondrial DNA?

A
  • High contamination risk
  • Heteroplasmy (more than one
    mtDNA type in tissues)
  • Lower power of discrimination among maternal relatives
22
Q

What are common problems encountered with DNA profiling?

A
  • Partial profiles
  • Mixed profiles
23
Q

Why is DNA used as forensic evidence?

A
  • Stability
  • Identical all over body
  • Unique
24
Q

Describe the structure of DNA

A
  • Composed of nucleotides
  • Deoxyribose sugar, phosphate group, nitrogen-containing base
25
Q

Describe the variation among individuals

A
  • Most of human genome is the same
  • Variation found in noncoding DNA
26
Q

What is noncoding DNA?

A
  • Do not encode protein sequences
  • Usually in the form of repeated base sequences
27
Q

How is DNA extracted?

A
  • Centrifugation
  • Agitation (break cell in buffer solution)
  • Removal of protein, RNA, lipids
28
Q

How does PCR work?

A
  • Cycles through high and low temp (90/55/70°C)
  • 90°C: hydrogen bonds between DNA strands break
  • 55°C: synthetic DNA fragments added
  • 70°C: DNA polymerase
29
Q

What is the importance of paternity in DNA analysis?

A

A child inherits two genes, one gene from the
mother and one gene from the father