DNA and Crime Investigation Essay

In the early 1950s, the race to find the structure of DNA was in full swing. The search was being conducted at three different colleges. At the California Institute of Technology, Linus Pauling,

The discovery started with what was inside the cell, and then they dove deeper looking for what was inside of the chromosomes and that is where they found the DNA structure.

Understanding DNA can take a lot of studying and confusion to even get the general idea of the concept. The structure of DNA is very complicated and complex to understand, but researchers James Watson, Francis Crick, Maurice Wilkins, and Rosalind Franklin all developed the idea of the DNA structure in 1953. Deoxyribonucleic Acid is found in the nucleus of the cell. It is a double stranded molecule that contains the genetic code and is the main component of chromosomes. DNA is the blueprint of organisms. Nucleotides are the basic unit of DNA and they are made up of sugar, phosphate, and one of the four basis including adenine,

Go to www.dnai.org > Code > Finding the Structure > problem 
As you work through the problem section, write, in your own words, the specific contribution that each scientist made to the DNA story in the spaces provided below. Scientist Contribution Friedrich Miescher     Miescher had isolated the first crude extract of DNA and showed that it contained proteins. Phoebus Levene   Levene dismantled the components that make up that DNA and learned that DNA was a long-chain molecule and was composed of four different nucleotides.

Since its discovery in the 1980’s, the application of DNA has been utilized in many ways. When Deoxyribonucleic Acid, or DNA is examined, a precise decoding of genetic information is revealed. With the exception of identical twins, every person’s genetic code (commonly referred to as a Genetic Fingerprint) is inherited and unique. From Maury advising men everyday on TV “You ARE the Father!” or “You are NOT the Father!” to learning the descendents of former slaves are related to President Thomas Jefferson, we have come to rely upon and expect the accuracy of DNA.

In Time Magazine an article states On February 28 1953, James Watson and Francis Crick broke the DNA code and discovered that the DNA strand is double helix and forms like a ladder. They found that cytosine and guanine were paired together and that adenine and thymine were paired. They discovered the building block of life (Wright, 1999). DNA is found in all living organisms.

The origins of DNA were first discovered during 1857 by Gregor Mendel the "Father of Genetics”, whom was performing an experiment of genetics with pea plants, and would provide a basic foundation towards DNA and Genetics. Friedrich Miescher and Richard Altmann in 1869 were also part of the first people to discover DNA. While testing some sperm of a salmon, they discover a strange substance that they would name as "nuclein", which is known as DNA. This new form of "nuclein" (DNA) would be found to only exist in chromosomes. Frederick Griffith, a researcher, found the basis on DNA, from a molecule inheritance experiment involving mice and two types of pneumonia. His findings were that, when virulent disease is heated up (to kill) and is

What is DNA? The scientific definition is “deoxyribonucleic acid, the biological polymer that stores the genetic information in all free living organisms. Two linear molecules entwine to form the double helix. Now that the definition has been stated, let’s now define what DNA means to a crime scene or case investigator. In the law enforcement business DNA has been introduce as a revolutionary and efficient accurate tool to solve and crack modern and cold cases. It also has played major roles in courtrooms through out the nation on either proven guilt, or revealing the truth behind the innocence on the wrongly accused and convicted by our own court system. DNA has also brought justice to

Now you may be thinking, “What is DNA?” It is the carrier of genetic information where an individual’s chromosomes control an array of characteristics. The whole body has DNA molecules in every cell of each individual, having a sequence of components arranged uniquely to themselves. Forensic scientists analyse DNA molecules (sweat, semen, saliva, blood, bone, etc) to perform comparisons to link someone to a crime or absolve them. Though, only a small part of the total variations can presently be examined.

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) has been used to analyze and prove innocence or guilt of suspects of crimes with great accuracy. DNA is part of everyday life. It is the heredity material in humans and almost all other organisms. While being part of an investigation. DNA has helped to solve crimes. There is a couple ways that DNA left behind can be tested to solve a crime. Either if the suspect has been caught and or had his or her DNA tested, or if he or she has left behind any biological evidence. Which then needs to be tested to see if it matches the DNA found in the crime scene to his or hers DNA. The result to this comparison may help establish if the suspect committed the crime.

DNA forensics is a division of forensic science that focuses on the use of genetic material in criminal investigation to answer questions pertaining to legal situations, including criminal and civil cases. Through DNA testing, law enforcement officers are able to identify human remains or the individual responsible for a crime. DNA testing is a highly advanced scientific process that involves replicating the human DNA sequence to create a genetic map of an individual. Because of its reliability, DNA testing has become a significant factor in criminal cases. However, it has also been identified as having the potential to violate privacy and constitutional rights. The DNA identification process consists of five stages. These five stages

Deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA as it is most commonly known, is a strand of molecules found within the cell nucleus of all living things. It is called a “genetic fingerprint” because each is different to the other and everyone, apart from identical twins, have

From cases such as OJ Simpson to Chandra Levy, DNA profiling also called DNA fingerprinting or DNA typing has played a major role in the criminal justice system. The law enforcement community uses DNA profiling to rule out or identify suspects. Unlike hair microscopy, bite mark comparisons, shoe print comparisons, and firearm tool mark analysis, DNA typing has been developed through massive scientific research and has undergone meticulous scientific evaluation (Innocence Project). DNA is a foolproof method of identifying a perpetrator of a crime.

In 1928, Frederick Griffith performed the first major experiment that led to the discovery of DNA by studying two strains of the pneumococcus bacteria. Of the two strains he studied, one caused pneumonia (lethal) and had a smooth appearance while the other strain did not cause pneumonia (non-lethal)

Part of the motivation for those who discovered the structure of DNA is that there were other individuals and groups interested in answering the same questions about the way life works. It may have added a little pressure and excitement to the process.