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Copy of Gel Electrophoresis and DNA Profiling

Biology

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23 views

Copy of Gel Electrophoresis and DNA Profiling

Biology

Uploaded by

shadowghostcg
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Gel Electrophoresis and DNA Profiling

Go to http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/labs/gel/ and follow the instructions to make and run a gel


electrophoresis. Be sure to read and answer the questions as you go!

1. How does a gel electrophoresis sort DNA strands?

2. What does the “gel” do?

3. What does “electrophoresis” do?

4. What type of DNA strands move through the gel more quickly, thus ending up further from the starting
point?

5. How do you make the sorted groups of DNA visible to the naked eye?

6. What is agarose?

7. Describe the buffer solution used to make the agarose gel.

8. What two things does the buffer solution in the electrophoresis box do?

9. What two things does loading buffer do for the DNA sample?

10. What does the DNA size standard contain?

11. Why is the DNA size standard used in the gel?

12. What charge does DNA have?

13. How do you know your current is running?

14. What happens to the DNA strands when the current is turned on?

15. What chemical is used to stain DNA?


Gel Electrophoresis and DNA Profiling

16. How does this chemical work?

17. Why would you wear gloves and avoid direct contact with this chemical if you were staining a gel in real life?

18. From longest to shortest, estimate the approximate length of the DNA strands in your sample.

At the bottom of the page, click Can DNA Demand a Verdict.

19. When did forensic DNA make its first appearance in a US courtroom?

20. Why is this process now called “DNA profiling” instead of DNA fingerprinting?

21. How many criminal cases used DNA profiling to acquit or accuse suspects of violent crimes?

22. How much of your DNA is unique only to you?

23. How many DNA base pairs are contained in every cell in your body?

24. What five items can be collected from a crime scene and used for DNA evidence?

25. What does PCR stand for?

26. What is PCR used for?

27. If the DNA profile from a piece of evidence is similar but not identical to the suspect, who might police
question? Why?

28. How many initial rape suspects does the FBI estimate are excluded because DNA samples fail to match?

29. What is the Innocence Project?

30. How many prisoners have been exonerated using DNA evidence since 1992? How many of these prisoners
were on Death Row?
Gel Electrophoresis and DNA Profiling

Analysis Questions
In this hypothetical paternity case, four autoradiographs show DNA fingerprints taken from three individuals: a
mother, her child, and the child’s alleged father. Each autoradiograph compares equivalent DNA segments from
the three individuals. The dark bands in each column represent DNA sequences. These segments differ in
length from person to person, so they can be used as genetic “markers.” Here, each marker is designated by a
letter. The letters associated with each marker indicate the individual’s genotype.

31. Under each column in the autoradiograph, write the letters associated with each individual’s genotype. The
first column has been completed for you.

32. On the radiograph, circle the markers that the child inherited from the mother. The first one has been
completed for you.

33. Which markers did the child inherit from the father?

34. Based on the gel electrophoresis results, is this the biological father of the child?
Gel Electrophoresis and DNA Profiling

35. Mrs. Smith had a baby named Tyra. She believes one of two men could be the
father. A paternity test is done and the results are shown to the right. Which of
the two men could likely be Tyra’s biological father?

36. Lieutenant Russ is investigating a murder scene. The felon was scratched by his
victim and some skin cells were found under the victim’s fingernails. A DNA test
was performed, and the results are shown to the left. Which of the suspects can be
placed at the crime scene?

37. Mr. & Mrs. Jones just gave birth to fraternal twins –
Bob and Jane. Unfortunately, the nurse has confused
the Jones twins with 4 other babies. The doctors took
samples of DNA from each of the babies and Mr. &
Mrs. Jones. Which 2 of the 6 children shown in the
gel electrophoresis are Mr. & Mrs. Jones’ twins?

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