Dna Analysis Essay
Introduction and background
There are a myriad of areas in the field of forensic science. One specific area is that of forensic biology; the application of biology to law enforcement. This discipline has been used to solve crimes by matching crime scene evidence to suspects, identifying victims and determining paternity to name a few. DNA based techniques are a sub-discipline of forensic biology and are a crucial component in this field of work. DNA analysis began in the mid 1980’s and revolutionised the field of forensic science. With continual refinement of DNA analysis methods in crime laboratories over the years, small amounts of blood, saliva, skin cells and other biological material can now be used to develop leads and confirm or disprove an account of the crime.
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is located in the cells of all living organisms and within its strands are the blueprints for life (Microbiology, 2014). DNA is an incredibly small molecule and thus is not visible as a single strand to the naked eye, but when thousands of threads of DNA are present, it is able to be seen …show more content…
When exposed to very high temperatures DNA fragments, due to the nature of the covalent bonds that form DNA (Carboni, 2007). Increasing the temperature causes the phospholipid bilayer to become more fluid which may allow molecules (that should not get in) to enter into the cells, thereby causing damage to the cell (Chandler, 2015).
The extraction of DNA from cells is a very important aspect in the field of forensic biology. Extraction and purification of DNA are the first steps forensic biologists undertake in order to analyse DNA. If a sample is very degraded, DNA analysts must be careful to ensure they are testing the right material. Forensic biologists/ investigators have developed and now use certain techniques to extract DNA in a way that is most efficient and accurate (SFU Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, 2010).
There are a myriad of areas in the field of forensic science. One specific area is that of forensic biology; the application of biology to law enforcement. This discipline has been used to solve crimes by matching crime scene evidence to suspects, identifying victims and determining paternity to name a few. DNA based techniques are a sub-discipline of forensic biology and are a crucial component in this field of work. DNA analysis began in the mid 1980’s and revolutionised the field of forensic science. With continual refinement of DNA analysis methods in crime laboratories over the years, small amounts of blood, saliva, skin cells and other biological material can now be used to develop leads and confirm or disprove an account of the crime.
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is located in the cells of all living organisms and within its strands are the blueprints for life (Microbiology, 2014). DNA is an incredibly small molecule and thus is not visible as a single strand to the naked eye, but when thousands of threads of DNA are present, it is able to be seen …show more content…
When exposed to very high temperatures DNA fragments, due to the nature of the covalent bonds that form DNA (Carboni, 2007). Increasing the temperature causes the phospholipid bilayer to become more fluid which may allow molecules (that should not get in) to enter into the cells, thereby causing damage to the cell (Chandler, 2015).
The extraction of DNA from cells is a very important aspect in the field of forensic biology. Extraction and purification of DNA are the first steps forensic biologists undertake in order to analyse DNA. If a sample is very degraded, DNA analysts must be careful to ensure they are testing the right material. Forensic biologists/ investigators have developed and now use certain techniques to extract DNA in a way that is most efficient and accurate (SFU Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, 2010).