V L9: Genetic markers and their use in Forensic Science

Question 1

what is a genetic marker?

Answer 1

DNA sequence with a known location on a chromosome that allows you to identify an individual

Question 2

For forensic purposes, what must a genetic marker have?

Answer 2

• Exhibit Mendelian inheritance (not lineage markers)

- Be polymorphic within the general population being examined

Question 3

what causes genetic variation?

Answer 3

mutations

Question 4

what type of mutations cause genetic variation?

Answer 4

replication errors, unequal crossing over at meiosis, deletions, transposition events, insertions

Question 5

How is genetic variation maintained from generations?

Answer 5

recombination and independent assortment of chromosomes at meiosis

Question 6

frequencies of an given allele in a population remains ______ from generation to generation

Answer 6

constant

Question 7

what polymorphisms are used in forensic science?

Answer 7

length polymorphisms (STRs) and sequence polymorphisms (SNPs)

Question 8

what are the most highly

conserved regions of the genome?

Answer 8

Protein coding genes

Question 9

Many genes have _____ alleles in the population

Answer 9

multiple