Forensic DNA Analysis

Jessica McDonald; Donald C. Lehman

doi:10.29074/ascls.25.2.109

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Jessica McDonald
1. Senior Student, University of Delaware, Newark, DE
Donald C. Lehman, EdD, MT(ASCP), SM(NRM)⇑
1. University of Delaware, Newark, DE

Address for Correspondence: Donald C. Lehman, EdD, MT(ASCP), SM(NRM), Department of Medical Technology. University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, (302) 831-8432, dlehman{at}udel.edu

Discuss the important developments in the history of DNA profiling.
Compare and contrast restriction fragment length polymorphism and short tandem repeat analyses in the area of DNA profiling.
Describe the structure of short tandem repeats and their alleles.
Identify the source of DNA in a blood sample.
Discuss the importance of the amelogenin gene in DNA profiling.
Describe the advantages and disadvantages of mitochondrial DNA analysis in DNA profiling.
Describe the type of DNA profiles used in the Combined DNA Index System.
Compare the discriminating power of DNA profiling and blood typing.

Extract

Television shows such as CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Law and Order, Criminal Minds, and many others portray DNA analysis as a quick and simple process. However, these portrayals are not accurate. Since the discovery of DNA as the genetic material in 1953, much progress has been made in the area of forensic DNA analysis. Despite how much we have learned about DNA and DNA analysis (Table 1), our knowledge of DNA profiling can be enhanced leading to better and faster results. This article will discuss the history of forensic DNA testing, the current science, and what the future might hold.

History of Forensic DNA Testing Before 1953, it was unknown what molecules living organisms used to store information and to pass traits to offspring. In 1953, Rosalind Franklin, James Watson and Francis Crick determined DNA's double helix structure. DNA consists of two twisting strands of polymers held together by hydrogen bonds formed between the complementary base pairing of nucleotides: adenine to thymine and cytosine to guanine. This discovery led to subsequent questions on DNA's variability. How can such a simple molecule provide for the myriad of traits seen in a population? It was discovered that the differences in the arrangement of base pairs are the reason for the differences in individuals. These differences in base pair arrangements not only make individuals look different, but they also give individuals a unique DNA pattern or profile.

In 1984 in Leicester, United Kingdom, Sir Alec Jeffreys paved the way for future advances in…

ABBREVIATIONS: AFLP - amplified fragment length polymorphism; CODIS - Combined DNA Index System; DNA - deoxyribose nucleic acid; HLA - human leukocyte antigen; mtDNA - mitochondrial DNA; PCR - polymerase chain reaction; RFLP - restriction fragment length polymorphism; RMP - random match probability; STR - short tandem repeats; VNTR - variable number of tandem repeats.

Discuss the important developments in the history of DNA profiling.
Compare and contrast restriction fragment length polymorphism and short tandem repeat analyses in the area of DNA profiling.
Describe the structure of short tandem repeats and their alleles.
Identify the source of DNA in a blood sample.
Discuss the importance of the amelogenin gene in DNA profiling.
Describe the advantages and disadvantages of mitochondrial DNA analysis in DNA profiling.
Describe the type of DNA profiles used in the Combined DNA Index System.
Compare the discriminating power of DNA profiling and blood typing.