DNA Profiling & CODIS: Who Robbed the Bank?
Students examine DNA to determine who robbed the bankCopyright President's DNA Initiative, US Department of Justice http://www.dna.gov/training/evidence/
Students use DNA profiling to determine who robbed a bank. After they learn how the FBI's Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) is used to match crime scene DNA with tissue sample DNA, students use CODIS principles and sample DNA fragments to determine which of three suspects matches evidence obtain at a crime location. They communicate their results as if they were biomedical engineers reporting to a police crime scene investigation.
Biomedical engineers who understand the science of genetics create tools, equipment and processes to accurately collect and examine DNA evidence for crime and paternity cases. These engineers also work with attorneys and in court systems to explain how DNA profiling works.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Describe the organization of DNA into repeating nucleotide base pair sequences
- Explain how DNA profiling is used to link people to crime and paternity cases.
- Describe the role of biomedical engineering in DNA profiling.