Mitochondrial DNA Research

The two techniques that opened the door to Mary Sullivan’s killer was mitochondrial DNA and Familial DNA. Mitochondrial DNA tests DNA from the mitochondria of a human cell. Humans inherit mtDNA solely from their mother, thus siblings with the same mother will have identical mtDNA to each other, assuming no mutation is present. Familial DNA analysis is based on the STR profiles found in databases such as the CODIS (combined DNA Index System). The profile comes from thirteen locations in the genome. If all 26 alleles match a DNA profile in the database, it indicates that DNA sample is the same man. There

DNA forensics is a division of forensic science that focuses on the use of genetic material in criminal investigation to answer questions pertaining to legal situations, including criminal and civil cases. Through DNA testing, law enforcement officers are able to identify human remains or the individual responsible for a crime. DNA testing is a highly advanced scientific process that involves replicating the human DNA sequence to create a genetic map of an individual. Because of its reliability, DNA testing has become a significant factor in criminal cases. However, it has also been identified as having the potential to violate privacy and constitutional rights. The DNA identification process consists of five stages. These five stages

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.

Deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA as it is most commonly known, is a strand of molecules found within the cell nucleus of all living things. It is called a “genetic fingerprint” because each is different to the other and everyone, apart from identical twins, have

The genes which encode for the mitochondria’s component proteins are in 2 separate genetic systems in 2 different locations. One of which is the cell nucleus, but the other is inside the organelle itself. There are relatively few genes inside the

Indeed DNA profiling has rapidly transform the field of forensics. DNA profiling is the scientific analysis of evidence for crime scene investigation and other legal proceedings. DNA profiling is mostly used by forensic scientists and crime lab technicians. To identify criminals and victims using trace evidence like hair or skin samples. To produce a DNA profile, scientists compare sequences in the genome that vary from person to person. The typical steps in DNA profiling are DNA samples are isolated from the crime scene, suspect, victims, or other evidence. The next selected sequences from each DNA sample are amplified (copied many times) to produce a large sample of DNA fragments. Finally the amplified DNA regions are compared using a gel. All together, these steps provide data about which samples are from the same individual and which sample is unique.

The theory behind DNA profiling technology is a bit difficult to explain. Basically, DNA is almost similar in everybody, except at some specific locations on DNA strands. At such locations, sequences vary. Such variations are repeated at regular intervals on the entire DNA strand and are unique to every person. These repetitions are referred to as short tandem repeats, or STRs. The focus in the case of DeSalvo's case was on the Y chromosome, which is received by men from their father and usually is common in all male members of the family across generations unless there are mutations.

- Dna tests on the mitochondria genome are used to expose a common ancestry or a genealogical connection up to 10,000 years ago to today.

The connection between the use of mtDNA and the World Trade Center disaster would be that forensic scientists and special doctors used mtDNA testing to help identify victims that had died in the World Trade Center. MtDNA testing is commonly used to determine a person’s ancestry and diagnosing certain diseases. The World Trade Center catastrophe was one of the first times mtDNA testing was used on disaster victims. With the help of mtDNA testing, forensic scientists were able to identify more than half of the 2,749 people who died September 9, 2001 during the World Trade Center disaster.

Hook: Have you ever thought about your personal DNA and why it is important to you? Besides showing factors of how you grow, develop, and function, your DNA has more to it. What is DNA profiling? DNA profiling is when someone uses DNA to identify someone, make sure someone is not being wrongly accused, or to claim criminals. But there are pros and cons to DNA profiling. This is because some people are for it and others are against it.

DNA Fingerprinting, also known as DNA Profiling, is a method used to identify a person using DNA patterns that are specific to him/her. 99.9% of DNA is identical in every human being, but .01% is enough to distinguish between people. It is most commonly used in criminal cases to link a criminal to his/her crime scene, but is also used for paternity/maternity tests, and immigration records. Usually a skin, hair, or body fluid sample is collected from a crime scene or criminal or test candidate, then DNA is extracted and cut using enzymes that recognize patterns in DNA and run through a gel by an electric current in a process called electrophoresis (Annely).

DNA (Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid) is a nucleic acid that has many names, each representing the phases that it undergoes (chromosomes, chromatin, genes/alleles); it resides in the nucleus (bound by 2 *phospholipid bilayers) of almost every cell in the body (red blood cells being an exception). DNA (your genotype) is double stranded and is responsible for replicating (from 46 to 92) during Interphase, so that mitosis can make new cells, repairing and allowing for growth in the body. It is also responsible for transcription and translation, a series of processes that allows for the genotype to become a phenotype (what you look like and metabolic processes). DNA is ~ 2 M long, and yet fits into a cell that is ~ 100 µM in size! Simple

Deoxyribonucleic acidity (DNA) fingerprint scanning service is really a fundamental technique which is used all through the global communities every day. The procedure associated with DNA fingerprint scanning service was initially produced by the geneticist, Alec Jefferys, in the University of Leicester situated in England, in the year 1984 (as cited in Lampton, 1991). Both primary kinds of DNA utilized in the actual profiling procedure consist of mitochondrial as well as nuclear DNA (Adams, 2005). DNA fingerprint scanning service can be further utilized to resolve paternity instances, to fit a claimed dad with his child. The procedure has also been essential within the legal proper rights program, this provides precise proof in order to convict suspects or even release them pertaining to the proof attained. An essential part associated with DNA fingerprint scanning service within the department of healthcare and relative areas is actually the utilization in detecting genetic as well as hereditary problems. Additionally, DNA fingerprint scanning service assists to not only identify these problems but also provide appropriate remedies in a timely manner as well (Adams, 2005).

DNA is deoxyribonucleic acid, which is found in almost all living things. DNA serves as a code for the creation and maintenance of new cells within an organism. Within humans, it is found in almost every cell. Although most of our DNA is found within the nucleus of our cells as nuclear DNA, a very small amount of our DNA is also found within the mitochondria as mitochondrial DNA. Because mitochondrial DNA is generally not used for solving crimes, for the purpose of this paper it will be disregarded.

The mtDNA are explicitly studied recently due to its unique property of being inherited only from the mother. Unlike the nuclear DNA, mtDNA does not follow the Mendelian laws. Studying the inheritance pattern of mtDNA from mother to offspring will give us a better insight about its role in mitochondria associated human diseases.