Biology

[equalsmcsquared.livejournal.com]

Good day, everyone. *glancing out over the class* For those of you who managed to avoid the zombies, good job. And those of you who actively fought the zombies now have extra credit. Decomp formula is in the back if needed.

Today we will begin talking about DNA in the forensic sense.

Any type of organism can be identified by examination of DNA sequences unique to that species. Identifying individuals within a species is less precise at this time, although when DNA sequencing technologies progress farther, direct comparison of very large DNA segments, and possibly even whole genomes, will become feasible and practical and will allow precise individual identification.

To identify individuals, forensic scientists scan 13 DNA regions that vary from person to person and use the data to create a DNA profile of that individual (sometimes called a DNA fingerprint). There is an extremely small chance that another person has the same DNA profile for a particular set of regions.

Comments

[maias-notebook.livejournal.com]

Maia sits down and starts to take notes, raises hand "What if they do? Have the same profile?"

[equalsmcsquared.livejournal.com]

If they have the same profile, they are either identical twins or clones. In my reality, human cloning has been banned but that doesn't mean the possibility has been completely destroyed.

Remind me to tell you all about the Chimera case at some point.

[maias-notebook.livejournal.com]

Is that the case Dr. Grissom presented on the non-manifested twin the enabled the person to have two completely different sets of DNA in his body?

[equalsmcsquared.livejournal.com]

Precisely. DNA we extraced from his saliva did not match the DNA found in his semen or blood. He had essentially absorbed his twin at the cellular level. *she frowns* Of course, we did not know that until we brought him in for questioning in the murder of the woman who accused him of rape.

[maias-notebook.livejournal.com]

Maia looks stunned for a moment. "Oh I-I didnt realize someone had been killed." Maia looks down for a moment and then write on her notes. "Did you work that case?"

[equalsmcsquared.livejournal.com]

Yes I did. Not that any of the cases I worked were ever truly pleasant, but I try not to think about that one.

*continues the lecture*

[maias-notebook.livejournal.com]

Maia frowns and starts to write in her notes again worried she said something wrong.

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"Extra credit?" Angelus grinned. "Thanks, teach. Always knew you liked me."

[equalsmcsquared.livejournal.com]

If that's what lets you sleep during the daylight hours, sure.

[deadlikegeorge.livejournal.com]

George cracks an eye, contemplates taking notes, decides against it, and goes back to her nap.

[equalsmcsquared.livejournal.com]

George, what does the polymerase chain reaction accomplish?

[deadlikegeorge.livejournal.com]

George starts, her eyes flying open.

"Uh. Polymerase chain reaction.... Polymerase chain reation... Ooh! PCR. I read about that last night. (I was *really* bored.) That has something to do with making copies. Of DNA, I mean."

[master-of-fear.livejournal.com]

*Jonathan walks in and starts taking notes. He seems more interested in what led to the forensic studies than the studies themselves*

[12parseckessel.livejournal.com]

*signs in, moving better than yesterday*

Extra credit is good.

*takes notes*

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

*hurries in late and red-eyed*

*whispers to Ms Sidle, "Sorry I'm late" and takes a seat in the back.*

[maias-notebook.livejournal.com]

Maia leans over and shows the place on the notes where they are.

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

*sniffles a little* Thanks.

[maias-notebook.livejournal.com]

"are you ok?" Maia whispers making sure Ms. Sidle's back is turned.

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

I'm okay. Just a really, really bad day. *makes sure Ms. Sidle isn't watching* And I'd better watch it in here 'cause I already got assigned detention today.

[maias-notebook.livejournal.com]

Maia stares "What?" almost forgetting to keep her voice down. "Why? What happened?"

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

I went in today to drop his class - and he gave me a "D" and told me I had to report to detention this Saturday. I've *never* had detention! And with all the crazy stuff at this school... I'm actually kind of scared.

[maias-notebook.livejournal.com]

Maia's mouth dropped. "They gave you detention because you dropped the class. Who? What teach-" Maia stops short as Ms. Sidle turns around. Maia puts her head down writing again watching Sara, when she turns back to the board Maia turns back to Lana "What teacher did that?"

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

Professor Beeblebrox.

[maias-notebook.livejournal.com]

"You should go see the principal. That is crap he gave you detention. Connor can overturn it."

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

Honestly, I think she scares me even more than detention!

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

*signs in and takes notes*

[addams-daughter.livejournal.com]

Wednesday arrives a little late, looking very much as if she'd met with some accident along the way. Her skirt is ripped and there's a long tear in the side of her backpack, which she is carrying in one hand. Wearing a look of supreme irritation, she apologizes to Professor Sidle and finds a seat in the back.

[equalsmcsquared.livejournal.com]

Not a problem, Wednesday. *a concerned look* Is everything all right?

[addams-daughter.livejournal.com]

"Not exactly, Professor." Wednesday frowned. "The walk to school this morning was slightly more invigorating than I'd planned. I think there may be a pooka out at Galactica Point because a giant white lobster tried to follow me to class. I lost it when I cut through the junk yard, I hope."

[demonbelthazor]

Belthazor signed in for class, but really did not want to be there. Obviously distracted, he only paid half-attention to the lecture.

[equalsmcsquared.livejournal.com]

...of course those chances are rather slim. Belthazor, care to elaborate on the technique for analyzing the variable lengths of DNA fragments that result from digesting a DNA sample with a special kind of enzyme?

[demonbelthazor]

Fortunately, memorization came in handy. Brooding wasn't all Belthazor had done over the weekend. He blinked several times, trying to sort out the question. "The enzyme like slices up the DNA at a specific shapes or patterns or something. Then they get stuck to DNA probes. I thought, uhh, that that wasn't used much anymore 'cuz there are better ways to do it that don't need so much good stuff to work with. Good DNA samples, I mean."

[equalsmcsquared.livejournal.com]

Very good. Please pay attention. *a quick smile and she continues lecturing*

[bluemanoncampus.livejournal.com]

::whispers to Belthazor::

What's the matter with you today? Another rough weekend with your dad?

[demonbelthazor]

*nods*

Yeah, he wasn't happy with my grades. And, umm, girl troubles.

[bluemanoncampus.livejournal.com]

::mildly sarcastic:: Phoebe, Piper or both?

[demonbelthazor]

Phoebe, for now. Both, probably. I, uhh...Phoebe caught me with another girl last night. She probably went to Piper about it and....

*shrugs, forcing casualness into his tone to try to mask his misery*

What can I say? My time management skills suck.

[cyloninmyhead.livejournal.com]

*spends class wondering if/how cylon-replicated DNA is compatible with human DNA*

[sogothcally.livejournal.com]

::After class, Cally approaches Ms. Sidle::

Ms. Sidle, I, uhhh... Just wanted to make sure you knew I was here. ::raises her bandaged hands in front of her::

I kinda can't sign the roll sheet.

[bluemanoncampus.livejournal.com]

::signs roll sheet and sits next to lab partner::
::starts taking notes::

[alchemic-bean.livejournal.com]

Yes! Extra credit. I knew I was in the middle of that shit for a reason.

*flips open his notes and starts jotting stuff down, then he surreptiously flips open a smaller black notebook and writes in that occasionally*

[sunny-skyes.livejournal.com]

Sits down next to Ed with a silly grin. "Whoah, man I must be like blind, I totally didn't notice you were in here." Start taking notes thinking the extra credit for the zombie thing is awesome!

[swerval_zero]

Extra credit? Wicked swerval!

*takes notes, as this is fascinating stuff*

*scribbles double helix: discovered over pints in the margins of her notes*

[jayne-serenity.livejournal.com]

*comes in, places a coffee down on Saras desk then takes his seat, quite a bit late*

*is still grinning like a maniac*

[equalsmcsquared.livejournal.com]

*deadpan* Let me guess--you were in your bunk?

[jayne-serenity.livejournal.com]

*slow nod, unable to get the grin gone*

[iwasawesome.livejournal.com]

*Lilly walks into class and sits down. She acts like she's taking notes, but it's really a list of plans for homecoming.*

[equalsmcsquared.livejournal.com]

*walks by, casually peering over her shoulder.*

*shakes her head*

It's not nice to speculate on people's chances of winning like that, Lilly. Kindly pay attention to the lecture, not after school activities.

[fates_jaye]

*is totally here, and on time and everything*