1. What is the DNA Polymerase Chain Reaction designed to do?

2. How does the thermal cycler work?

Problem: Who committed the crime at 75 West 205^th Street, room 327?

Results:

1. Make a labeled drawing of your stained gel.

2. Measure and record the distance migrated by the various alleles,

in mm.

3. Graph your results

a. distance migrated as the x-axis

b. length with the y-axis

c. plot distance migrated versus bp length for each marker

d. connect data points with a line

Analysis:

1. Identify the reagents used in this experiment.

2. Explain how each reagent works.

3.What is a primer dimer?

4. Explain the significance of the primer dimer.

5. Based on your results, which suspect(s) should be held in

6. Which suspect(s) should be excluded? Explain.

Conclusion:

1. Produce an exhibit of your results for court.

2. Explain how you could present your findings to the members of

a jury.

3. Compare the reagents, protocol, stains and gels produced in

class with the reagents, protocol and gels produced in a forensic

crime lab.

Discussion:

1. How are the following DNA tests used in forensic

investigations?

1. RFLP
2. PCR
3. STR
4. Mitochondrial DNA

2. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of each type of DNA test.