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]

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.