Biology

Name: _______________________________

Create a DNA Fingerprint Web Quest

Using your knowledge of DNA, you will be solving a crime. Begin by collecting clues at the
following website:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/education/body/create-dna-fingerprint.html
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Read the background information for the crime & answer the following questions:
1) What happened? (Summarize the crime)

2) What is your task?

Part 2: DNA Fingerprinting at the NOVA Lab

Follow the directions on the screen to create a DNA fingerprint for the crime scene DNA. The DNA
specimen has already been prepared, using some of the saliva extracted from the lollipop.
&DUHIXOO\UHDGDOO:KDW+DSSHQHGVFUHHQs and answer the following questions for each step.
Step 1: Pour restriction enzymes into DNA
3) What do restriction enzymes do to DNA?
4) How will the DNA fragments vary from person to person? Why?

Step 2: Pour agarose gel into tray on lab counter

5) What is agarose gel? What does it do?

Step 3: Pour DNA into the agarose gel in the tray

Step 4: Turn on switch to begin electrophoresis
6) What is electrophoresis?
7) What causes the DNA fragments to move?
8) How does electrophoresis distribute the fragments in the gel? Why do they get distributed
this way?

Step 5: Place nylon membrane on top of the gel

9) Why do you transfer the DNA to a nylon membrane?

Step 6: Add probes to nylon membrane

10) What are probes?
11) Where do they attach to the DNA fragments on the nylon membrane?
12) What happens to the excess probes?

Step 7: Place x-ray film on top of nylon membrane

13) What is responsible for exposing the location of the probes on the x-ray film?

Step 8: Develop film by dragging it to the developer

14) What does the x-ray film display?

Part 3: Evaluate the Evidence; Choose the Culprit

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