Crime labs report about 25% of samples sent by law enforcement do not match primary suspect (FBI, GBI, Virginia, Connecticut, Justice Department). Other activities: Basque mitochondrial heritage study of 95 unrelated families. Murder of an Alaskan Native Chief. | DNA evidence is a frozen moment in time Image by collaborator Carl Kriigel, US Army Criminal Investigation Lab DNA is convicting the guilty and freeing the inncocent Clarence Harrison, 2004 Local DNA expert helps overturn Georgia conviction 08:56 AM PDT on Wednesday, September 1, 2004 Adam Atchison / KTVB Thanks in part to the efforts of Hampikian and his team, Georgia resident Clarence Harrison walked out of the courtroom a free man on Tuesday. Just last week, Hampikian reviewed new DNA test results and discovered Harrison’s DNA doesnt match the evidence saved from the scene of a rape and robbery in 1986 How good is DNA at exonerating? Crime labs report about 25% of samples sent by law enforcement do not match primary suspect (FBI, GBI, Virginia, Connecticut, Justice Department) Hampikian group mitochondrial projects Other activities: Basque mitochondrial heritage study of 95 unrelated families Murder of an Alaskan Native Chief Where Is All This DNA Coming From? DNA is found in all body cells (except mature red blood cells) We leave a little bit of DNA everywhere we go Most forensic sources of DNA are body fluids, or transferred cells Blood Semen Saliva Urine Hair Teeth Bone Tissue DNA Use in Forensic Cases Most are rape cases (>2 out of 3) Looking for match between evidence and suspect Mixtures must be resolved DNA can be degraded (bacteria, fungi, sunlight, heat) Inhibitors to diagnostic test can be present (heme, dyes ) Scientists need a quick and easy way to produce DNA in sufficient quantities for their studies and generate labeled DNA molecules to visualize and study specific molecules within cells. Challenges Modified from PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) GV: TS. Lê Quang Nguyên DNA in the Cell Target Region for PCR chromosome cell nucleus Double stranded DNA molecule Individual nucleotides . | DNA evidence is a frozen moment in time Image by collaborator Carl Kriigel, US Army Criminal Investigation Lab DNA is convicting the guilty and freeing the inncocent Clarence Harrison, 2004 Local DNA expert helps overturn Georgia conviction 08:56 AM PDT on Wednesday, September 1, 2004 Adam Atchison / KTVB Thanks in part to the efforts of Hampikian and his team, Georgia resident Clarence Harrison walked out of the courtroom a free man on Tuesday. Just last week, Hampikian reviewed new DNA test results and discovered Harrison’s DNA doesnt match the evidence saved from the scene of a rape and robbery in 1986 How good is DNA at exonerating? Crime labs report about 25% of samples sent by law enforcement do not match primary suspect (FBI, GBI, Virginia, Connecticut, Justice Department) Hampikian group mitochondrial projects Other activities: Basque mitochondrial heritage study of 95 .
