DNA Forensics

This lesson is a great first experiment after the “Getting Started” series. It is a culmination of all the concepts and skills learned in the introductory series to solve a fun mystery using DNA fingerprinting. This mystery scenario can be used “as is” or it can be a “write you own” mystery. In this lesson, crime scene evidence is found as well as evidence from three suspects. Student detectives solve the mystery by pipetting DNA reactions then running a gel electrophoresis to compare DNA found at the crime scene with the 3 suspects.

Beginner Lab: this lesson is recommended following the “Getting Started” introductory labs and is appropriate for any science class.