DNA Testing


The information given by Dr. De Ungoria was so 'laymanish' that a science teacher of a rather different orientation could be interested in molecular biology.
In her illustration she said that the first step is to extract DNA samples from non-contaminated source: teeth (the pulp), the heart, bone, any part that does not show signs of decay due to microbial nuclease. Blood is the usual sample they take in their DNA profiling survey. This is needed in comparing results of an analyzed sample in 13 to 15 DNA sections (out of 3 billion+ base pairs in humans). Nuclear DNA is used particularly when Y chromosome is involved while mitochondrial DNA is analysed for ante-mortem cases (matching it to mother's DNA) because people inherit the mother's mitochondrial DNA.
In her illustration she said that the first step is to extract DNA samples from non-contaminated source: teeth (the pulp), the heart, bone, any part that does not show signs of decay due to microbial nuclease. Blood is the usual sample they take in their DNA profiling survey. This is needed in comparing results of an analyzed sample in 13 to 15 DNA sections (out of 3 billion+ base pairs in humans). Nuclear DNA is used particularly when Y chromosome is involved while mitochondrial DNA is analysed for ante-mortem cases (matching it to mother's DNA) because people inherit the mother's mitochondrial DNA.
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