DNA

DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC
ACID
OVERVIEW
• Forensic Serology – the detection, identification,
classification and study of various bodily fluids and their
relationship to a crime scene
• DNA – linking of biological evidence to an individual
• DNA - impartial
• DNA - exonerates the innocent
• DNA - implicates the guilty
INTRODUCTION
• genes of a person consist of DNA molecules and is
responsible for the development, functioning, growth and
reproduction of all organisms and some viruses
• genes composes the chromosomes inside the nucleus of the
cell
• generally, human cells contain forty-six chromosomes or
twenty-three pairs
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
• except, human reproductive cells, the egg cell and sperm
cell contain twenty-three unpaired chromosomes
• union of sperm cell and egg cell - each contributes twenty-
three chromosomes to form a new cell called zygote
• a new life begins with twenty-three mated chromosome pairs
SPERM CELL and EGG CELL
INTRODUCTION
• the new individual inherits from each parent their genetic
material
• sex is determined by the combination of different
chromosomes, the X chromosome and the Y chromosome
• the position a gene occupies on a chromosome is its locus
LOCUS and ALLELE
LOCUS and ALLELE
• alleles - alternative forms that are aligned with one another on a
chromosome pair
• homozygous gene - a gene pair made up of two similar alleles
• heterozygous gene - a gene pair made up of two different alleles
• dominant gene - the characteristic code that is expressed when
two different genes are inherited
LOCUS and ALLELE
• recessive gene - the
characteristic code that
remains hiddenwhen two
different genes are
inherited
DNA STRUCTURE
NUCLEOTIDE
NUCLEOTIDE
• nucleotide – the intact DNA molecule is composed of the
base linked to a sugar molecule (deoxyribose) and phosphate
group constituting the backbone of the helix
• Four bases:
1. A - adenine 3. C - cytosine
2. T - thymine 4. G - guanine
MACROMOLECULES
• Four Major Types of Macromolecules that are Essential for
the Formation of Life
1. nucleic acids – DNA and RNA (ribonucleic acid)
2. proteins
3. lipids
4. polysaccharides (complex carbohydrates)
DNA (DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID)
• concept of heredity was explained upon the discovery of DNA
through:
1. decoding its structure
2. deciphering its genetic information

• understanding the basic structure of genes, we can:

1. create new products through genetic engineering
2. develop diagnostic tools and treatments for genetic disorders
TYPES of DNA
1. Nuclear DNA (NDNA)
2. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)
3. Chloroplast DNA (cpDNA)
4. Plasmid DNA (pDNA)
5. Recombinant DNA (rDNA)
6. Cell-free DNA or Cell-Free fetal DNA (cfDNA)
7. Environmental DNA (eDNA)
8. Relaxed circular DNA (rcDNA)
9. Covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA)
10. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA)
RNA (RIBONUCLEIC ACID)
• RNA -single-stranded nucleic acid present in all living cells
that has structural similarities to DNA except: sugar (ribose)
and base uracil (U)
• Types of RNA
1. messenger RNA (mRNA)
2. ribosomal RNA (rRNA)
3. transfer RNA (tRNA)
DNA FINGERPRINTING
(DNA TYPING)
• Alec Jeffreys (1984) - discovered DNA fingerprinting (DNA
typing) wherein the genetic code sequence can identify an
individual
• 1985 - 1st forensic case involving DNA in an immigration
case having dispute as to the identity of a British boy whose
family originally came from Ghana
• 1986 - 1st police investigation involving DNA
STR (SHORT TANDEM REPEAT)
• found on the chromosome
containing short sequence
elements
• 3 to 7 bases repeating within
the DNA molecule serving as
markers for identification
STR (SHORT TANDEM REPEAT)
• less than 450 bases making it shorter than other DNA typing
procedures
• less susceptible to degradation and often recovered even
there is extreme decomposition of the body or stain
• due to its shortness, it can be multiplied by PCR resulting to
overcoming the limited and sample size problem
encountered in crime scene evidence
MULTIPLEXING
• when an STR is selected for examination, the sequence of
bases flanking the repeats must be established and not only
the identity and number of repeats
• a technique used to simultaneously detect more than one
DNA marker in a single analysis through amplification of
combination of different STRs using PCR
Y-STR (SEX IDENTIFICATION)
• are useful for analysis of blood, saliva or a vaginal swab
wherein there is a mix originating from more than one male
or when several males are involved in a sexual assault
• derived from the Y chromosome originating from only one
male chromosome
• Y-STR has only one band or peak for each STR type
DNA PROFILING
• produced after analysis of a biological sample retrieved from
an individual or left at the crime scene and searched and
compared on the DNA database
• warm hit – DNA matches with an individual previously
suspected or involved in crime
• cold hit – DNA matches with an individual not previously
suspected of involvement
DNA SAMPLE
• court order sample – an individual is ordered by the Court to
submit DNA sample
• suspect sample – sample is collected from an arrested person
• elimination sample – voluntarily submitted or collected sample
from the victim
• crime scene sample – sample recovered from the crime scene
PCR (POLYMERASE CHAIN
REACTION)
• a laboratory technique designed to multiply and copy portions of
a DNA strand outside of the living cell
• each base pairing in the DNA strand of the double helix contains
the same information
• in PCR, it is recreated producing two identical DNA copies
• cell passes the genetic identity when it divides
thank you for listening
and have a good day!