Dna Sequencing Essay

From cases such as OJ Simpson to Chandra Levy, DNA profiling also called DNA fingerprinting or DNA typing has played a major role in the criminal justice system. The law enforcement community uses DNA profiling to rule out or identify suspects. Unlike hair microscopy, bite mark comparisons, shoe print comparisons, and firearm tool mark analysis, DNA typing has been developed through massive scientific research and has undergone meticulous scientific evaluation (Innocence Project). DNA is a foolproof method of identifying a perpetrator of a crime.

This paper explores the history and some interesting facts about DNA. The last couple centuries have seen an exponential growth in our knowledge of DNA. The history of the DNA can be traced back to multiple devoted scientist. This article attempts to summarize, and review the basic history of DNA while providing some fascinating information about it.

(PCR), which isolates small fragments of DNA that have a high degree of variability from

2. The millions of copies that are created from a meager amount of DNA assist the laboratory in generating a DNA profile that will be compared against the DNA profile of the suspect.

The sticky end DNA fragments are subject to fluorescent probes, having separate colours for a single base. The labeled DNA fragments are fed into an automatic sequencing machine that reads the base sequence according to the colours of the bases. A computer then uses this piece of information to read the sequence into a continuous DNA sequence by finding overlaps and matching

DNA profiling involves testing mini-satellites one at a time which then goes on to produce an image which is much simpler than genetic fingerprinting. It provides a pattern which is unique to a particular person and is therefore suitable for forensic purposes. (Turnpenny, P et al 2005).

Another machine that is used is the Molecular Dynamics Fluorimager FSI. This device is a quantitative gel and blot system in order for scientists to read. This labels the DNA and proteins on micro plates. A laser scans the DNA a then provides an image for studying the DNA (Harkey, 2002).

Currently, the DNA examined and recorded for forensic purposes does no reveal the most personal of these details but the technology for doing this exists or is likely to exist in the future. The ability to use DNA to make family connection is currently the main issue raised by the use of DNA technology in law enforcement, which is bound to result in futuristic invasion of privacy or possible harassment of those who happen to be family members of possible

Every day DNA technology becomes more advanced and innovative, for example can match the smallest amounts of biological evidence to a criminal offender. Future DNA techniques will be applied to existing systems and testing methods that will become more automated and will be more effective and less time consuming. Instead of waiting months of DNA results the future will provide instantaneous means for DNA profile development.

Ever since I read the novel Some Girls Bite by Chloe Neill, my interest in University of Chicago took root. Every aspect, from its renown Core Curriculum to its extensive research opportunities and its diverse student body, readily matches the setting in which I hope to immerse myself over the next four years. It still amazes me how I can major in Cellular and Molecular Biology, explore the city of Chicago, and spend a semester abroad. Hopefully, I will one day be able to take advantage of UChicago’s many research opportunities by participating at the BioPhysics Core Facilities because I want to study genome sequences with state of the art technology.

Law Enforcement keep notes on arrests that have founded people innocent of crimes, and retention of an innocent person's DNA can be charge or otherwise, seen as a invasion of that person’s privacy and civil liberties. Dr. Alec Jeffrey, a former professor at the University of Leicester laboratory, consulted with his lawyers to develop the new type of technique called DNA profiling. His technique would prove that DNA fingerprinting (profiling) can individualize evidence compared to the blood typing. DNA profiling compares 13 standard STRs to form a profile. The analysis used by the scientists, uses PCR and STRs to profile an individual. It is highly unlike that two individuals’ identical numbers of repeats for all 13 STRs, will match, which DNA fails is hardly never due to a successful match of 385 million to 1. This makes DNA profiling the most accurate tool in Forensics.

The work of these four people led to a complete restructuring of the beliefs of the scientific community regarding genetic information. Their initial word led to further work which encompassed their hypothesis of how DNA replicates itself. From this work came the modern technologies of DNA fingerprinting and sequencing.

Nucleic acid molecules which are to be analyzed are set upon a viscous medium, thegel, where an electric field induces the nucleic acids to migrate toward the anode, due to the net negative charge of the sugar-phosphate backbone of the nucleic acid chain. The separation of these fragments is accomplished by exploiting the mobilities with which different sized molecules are able to pass through the gel. Longer molecules migrate more slowly because they experience more resistance within the gel. The DNA fragments of different lengths are visualized using a fluorescent dye specific for DNA, such asethidium bromide. The gel shows bands corresponding to different nucleic acid molecules populations with different molecular weight. Fragment size

material of some viruses. RNA molecules are like DNA. They have a long chain of

Every state within the United States runs its own newborn screening program which test for at least 30 serious conditions which are treatable if caught early. The program is designed to save lives and uses the dried blood sample collected during the first week after birth. The blood sample is used to measure the presence of disease markers. The current newborn screening programs are fast, cost effective, and accurate in identifying disease before symptoms appear. Genome sequencing cost have now decrease to a price range like other complex medical test to be readily available for clinical application. It is possible for genome sequencing to replace or supplement the existing traditional panels for newborn screening tests. The