Camryn Sippy

Crime Scene: #2
Evidence being examined: Blood under victims fingernails
Forensic science used: Nuclear DNA
Summary of the science:
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) testing has been one of the best methods used in criminal
investigation since 1987 when the first criminal case to use DNA occurred in the United States.
In 1869, a Swiss physician by the name of Friedrich Miescher was the first person to discover
DNA when he found the microscopic substance on a surgical bandage and determined it to be
located in the nuclei of cells. In 1919, Phoebus Levene identifies the nucleotides, sugar and
bases and posed the DNA consisted of nucleotides linked together by phosphates. In 1953,
James Watson and Francis Crick posed the now accepted double-helix structure of DNA after
Rosalind Franklin took a single x-ray diffraction image of DNA.
DNA is one of the most reliable methods for identification in criminal case because of
the uniqueness of every individuals DNA. It can be found in human bodily fluid along with hair
follicles and is located in the nuclei of Eukaryotic cells. DNA is probative and considered
associative evidence because it links a specific person to the scene of the crime or can identify
and unidentifiable person. Since DNA cannot be seen with the naked eye, there are a series of
procedure that need to done such as DNA Extraction, Polymerase Chain Reaction, and Gel
Electrophoresis.
The first part of the Nuclear DNA testing process is DNA Extraction. The first step is to
add salt to the evidence that is being tested. The salt breaks down the chains that connect the
Nucleic Acids in the cell. This allows the molecules to separate and also neutralizes the charge
of DNA. Next, the Lysis Buffer is added which is made of dish soap and water. The purpose of
the Lysis Buffer is to break down the cellular membrane. The cellular membrane is made up of
lipids (fats and oils) which protect the cell. After the Lysis Buffer has been added, cold rubbing
alcohol is added. DNA is not soluble in alcohol, meaning that the DNA floats to the top.
PCR or Polymerase Chain Reaction is the process of taking a small section of DNA and
replicating it billions of times for criminal investigation. PCR is helpful when the DNA evidence
present is minimal and hard to analyse because of the amount present. The extracted DNA is
first put into a PCR tube for testing. The tube regulates heat and doesnt allow the DNA to boil
while also evenly distributing the heat throughout the tube. Primers are then added to the tube.
Primers attach to the ends of the small segments of DNA that are being tested so that only that
segment will be copied during the PCR process. Nucleotides (Thymine, Cytosine, Adenine, and
Guanine) are then added to the tube. These nucleotides are what make up the genetic code in
DNA and are what the DNA copies are made up of. After the nucleotides have been added,
DNA polymerase is next. DNA polymerase read the DNAs code and assign correct nucleotides
to the correct places to replicate the DNA. Once everything has been added to the PCR tube,
the tube is place in a DNA Thermal Cycler that heats and cools the DNA to specific
temperatures at specific times for an hour, creating the DNA copies. The first cycle in the DNA

Thermal Cycler separates the DNA in its double helix form into two individual steps at 95
degrees Celsius. It then cools down to 50 degrees Celsius and the Primers attach to both sides
of the desired segment. The temperature changes once again to 72 degrees Celsius and the
DNA polymerase attaches to the Primers and adds nucleotides that are complementary to that
segment of DNA. This process is reproduced for a second and a third cycle which is when the
desired DNA replication begins to appear.
Gel Electrophoresis is the process of taking DNA that has been through the PCR
process and using electricity to create a DNA fingerprint. First a gel is poured into a rectangular
shaped dish with wells on one end for the DNA to be inserted into the gel. The DNA is placed
into the wells at the end of the gel. A positive electrical charge is placed at the other side of the
gel and the DNA travels through the gel. The DNA separates as it travels through the gel,
thinner strands travel farther and thicker strands stay closer to the wells. When the DNA goes
through the gel, it leaves its own unique pattern called a DNA fingerprint which is used in
investigation.
An advancement in using DNA evidence in criminal cases is being able to do DNA
testing on plants as associative evidence. Investigators are able to test remnants of plants that
may be on the suspect to and link them back to scene by also testing plants at the scene.
After DNA testing, it can be determined that the blood found underneath the fingernails
of Nathan Harren does not belong to John Hannah or James Newell who were suspects for the
murder of Nathan Herron.

Sources:
"Gel Electrophoresis." Gel Electrophoresis. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Oct. 2014.
"PCR." PCR. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2014.
"Polymerase Chain Reaction." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 25 Oct. 2014. Web. 26 Oct.
2014.
"DNA Forensics Problem Set." DNA Forensics Problem Set. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Oct. 2014.
"DNA." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 26 Oct. 2014.