The basics of Forensic Genetics and DNA Flashcards

1
Q

What is a gene?

A

Stretch of DNA coding for a certain characteristic.

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2
Q

What is an allele?

A

A variant of a gene.

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3
Q

Genotype means what?

A

Unique sequence of DNA - two inherited alleles.

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4
Q

Phenotype means what?

A

Detectable expressions of genes - hair colour, eye colour, etc.

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5
Q

What is a homozygote?

A

Two of the same co-dominant alleles.

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6
Q

What is a heterozygote?

A

Two different co-dominant alleles.

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7
Q

What is a polymorphism?

A

The exploitation of differences and mutations.

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8
Q

What are the polymorphisms used in forensics?

A

SNPs and STRs.

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9
Q

Satellite DNA means what?

A

Long repeats (hundreds and thousands of base pairs).

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10
Q

How many base pairs are in mini satellites?

A

8 to 100 base pairs.

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11
Q

How many base pairs are in micro satellites?

A

2 to 7 base pairs.

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12
Q

How many base pairs do we target in forensics?

A

2 to 7 base pairs (micro satellites).

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13
Q

Locus/loci means what?

A

Repeating area groups of co-dominant alleles.

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14
Q

What are some examples of forensic uses for DNA?

A

Determining origin, paternity testing, and DSV identification.

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15
Q

In what direction is DNA coded?

A

5 prime to 3 prime.

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16
Q

D8S1179 What does each point mean?

A

D - DNA
8 - the 8th chromosome
S - single copy
1179 - 1179th STR on chromosome 8

17
Q

What are micro variants?

A

A full number of repeats but one allele has some random bases, this presents itself as a decimal.

18
Q

Autosomal means what?

A

Non-sex chromosomes (22 pairs - 44 singles).

19
Q

What purpose would we use Autosomal STRs?

A

To identify an indivdual.

20
Q

What purpose would we use Autosomal STRs?

A

To identify an individual.

21
Q

What purpose would we use Y STRs?

A

To identify male components, or a family grouping.

22
Q

What purpose would we use X STRs?

A

To identify female components, or paternity.

23
Q

What is a limitation of X STR?

A

It degrades quickly.

24
Q

What are iSNPs used for?

A

Identification.

25
Q

What are pSNPs used for?

A

To identify phenotypic characteristics.

26
Q

What are aSNPs used for?

A

To give a biographic location.

27
Q

What are mtSNPs used for?

A

Heavily degraded DNA, mitochondrial DNA is protected.

28
Q

What is the recovery process of DNA?

A

Recovery
Extraction
Quantification
Amplifictaion
Visualisation
Results/Interpretation