Topic 6 Flashcards
What are Exons?
Sequences that contain code for a polypeptide (Coding parts of DNA)
What are Introns?
- Non Coding sequences of mRNA
- with introns, you have short tandem repeat sequences (STR) also called satellite DNA
- an STR can contain from 2-50 base pairs and can be repeated from 5 several hundred times
- more similar repeats= more related
What is Post Transcriptional Modification?
- Allows for one gene to code for many proteins
- Through alternative splicing of exons
- In Spliceosome
What are the steps for Post Transcriptional Modification?
- Introns are removed from the gene
- Exons are re-ordered
- Then are translated to create different proteins
What is DNA Profiling?
Where DNA is used for identification as well as comparing genetic relationships between organisms
What are the main stages of DNA Profiling?
- Sampling
- Amplification
- Sorting + Comparison (Gel electrophoresis)
How does sampling work?
Obtaining DNA Sample
- Requires biological tissue (Cheek Swap, Blood Smear + Skin Cells)
- Tissue is broken down in buffer solution to disrupt cell membranes
- DNA is separated through a centrifuge
- Protease is added and the solution is incubated removing proteins
- Cold ethanol is added to precipitate the DNA
How does DNA amplification work?
PCR Steps
- DNA sample + Taq polymerase, DNA primers and Nucleotides are added to REACTION CYLINDER
- 95C - DNA strands are separated
- 55C - Primers attach at the start of STR sequences
- 70C
- Taq polymerase attaches and replication occurs at each primer using the nucleotides
- STR fragments are replicated again and again
What is the definition of Core temperature?
- The internal body temperature of a person before death
- Normal Temp 37
- Drops rapidly after death
What is the definition of Rigor Mortis?
- Stiffening of muscles after relaxing post death
- Joints become fixed
- Depends on position (flexed or extended)
What is Autolysis?
- Body enzymes from lysosomes and small intestine
- Break down cells and tissue
- Gut bacteria invade other tissues after death
- Releasing decomposition tissues
What is putrefaction?
- First signs of decomposition
- Discolouration of lower abdomen skin
- Sulfhaemoglobin formation in the blood
- Spreads across the body turning reddish green → purple-black colour
- Gas or Liquid blisters
- Formation of CH4, HS, CO2, NH3, H2 gas in intestines + Tissues
- Body smells and bloats
- Caused by bacteria
What factors determine the time of death?
Factors that estimate time of death:
- Core temperature + Post Mortem Cooling
- Rigor Mortis
- Stage of Decomposition
How does body temperature relate to the time of death?
Body Temperature
- Core temp is 36.2 - 37.2 Degrees
- Lack of heat-producing chemicals causes post-mortem cooling
- This means the accuracy decreases over time
- Measured through a long thermometer/temperature probe via the rectum or abdomen
- Follows a sigmoid curve
- Plateau lasts 30-60 Min
- Assumes death at normal temp
- Assumes no hypothermia or fever
What effects post mortem cooling
********Factors that affect post-mortem cooling********
- Body size
- Body position
- Clothing
- Air Movement
- Humidity
- Temperature of surroundings
What are the steps in Rigor Mortis?
Steps in Rigor Mortis
- Muscle cells become starved of oxygen, stopping oxygen-dependent reactions
- Lactic acid produced from anaerobic respiration
- Causing a drop in cell pH inhibiting enzyme reactions including respiration
- ATP is no longer produced for fixing muscle proteins
- Protein cant move over one another fixing muscles and joints
How does Rigor Mortis Relate to the time of death?
Rigour Mortis will occur quicker if env temp is high or if physical activity before death
How does Decomposition relate to the time of death?
Decomposition
- Abdominal wall discolouration 36-72 hours after death
- Gas formation occurs after a week
- Colder temperatures slow down decomposition
- Warmer temperatures speed up decomposition
- Injuries allow entry of bacteria aiding decomposition
What happens hours after a death?
Hours after Death
- body temp dec.
- bacteria + enzymes decompose body cells + tissue→ this is called autolysis
- fly eggs present
- rigour Mortis (4-6 hours after death)
What happens days after death?
Days after death
- microorganisms decompose tissue + organs→ self-digestion
- discolouration of the skin of the lower abdomen- the first sign of decomposition (putrefaction)
What happens Weeks after death?
Days after death
- microorganisms decompose tissue + organs→ self-digestion
- discolouration of the skin of the lower abdomen- the first sign of decomposition (putrefaction)
What happens months ad years after death?
**Months =** Skeleton
****Years =**** Skeleton disintegrates
What is the definition of forensic entomology?
- The study of the colonisation of organisms on a dead corpse to determine the time of death.
- The rate of maggot development is determined through maggot mass and temp of air around the body
- The age of maggots through time eggs are laid gives the minimum time since death
What is the succession of organisms in a corpse?
Organism Succession
- Bacteria
- Flies + Larvae
- Beetles
- No organisms
What are the changes in tissue after death?
- Post-death
- Decomposed tissue
- Dry Tissue (Flies leave here)
- No Tissue
What is succession?
- One group of organisms feeds on the decomposing body
- Changing the conditions attracts another group of organisms
- Forensic entomologists can then determine the stage of the sequence of organisms the corpse is in to determine the time of death
- Through the age of maggots and the time eggs were laid
That investigation could be carried out to study the effect of temperature on the time taken for the first instar maggot to become a pupa?
1) use a range of temps
2) water bath
3) timing starts when eggs hatch into instar maggots + ends when the third instar maggots begin to pupate
4) provide food for maggots
5) control humidity
What factors affect the life cycle of an insect?
conditions affecting the life cycle of an insect
- dugs
- humidity
- oxygen
- temp
What is Bacteria?
Bacteria
- Belong to the prokaryote kingdom
- Pathogen
- Reproduce rapidly
- Releases toxins that cause lysis of cells
- Cell walls made of Peptidoglycan (Peptides and Sugar molecules)
What is a Virus?
Virus
- Nucleic Acid (DNA or RNA) surrounded by a capsid protein coat
- Electron microscope required to see
- Has some type of genetic material RNA or DNA
- Some have enzymes or an outer envelope - useful for virus replication
- Virus reproduction requires a host and can mutate
What is the structure of a bacteria cell?
Flagellum - Allows the bacteria to move around
Pili - Allows the bacteria to attach to other cells
Plasmid - Contains genetic information of the cell and can be transferred from bacteria to bacteria
Capsule - Protects the cell
Cell Wall - Supported the cell
Ribosome - Translated mRNA into protein