Answer to Question #10210 in Molecular Biology for Karabo Monyama

Question

How can PCR assist with solving crime scenes? Provide at least two ideas on which you elaborate

Answer 1

Crime scenes often contain biological evidence (such as blood, semen, hairs, saliva, bones, pieces of skin) from which DNA can be extracted. If the DNA profile obtained from evidence discovered at the scene of a crime matches the DNA profile of a suspect, the individual is included as a potentially guilty person; if the two DNA profiles do not match, the individual is excluded from the suspect pool. DNA profiling is the use of molecular genetic methods to determine the exact genotype of a DNA sample to distinguish one human being from another. This powerful tool is now routinely used around the world for investigations of crime scenes, missing persons, mass disasters, human rights violations, and paternity testing. Rapid identification of terrorists and specific biological agents using PCR-based methods represents a plausible approach to gathering critical information about these individuals and weapons.