What discovery in 1985 significantly advanced forensic genetics?

The discovery of Variable Number of Tandem Repeats (VNTR) by Sir Alec Jeffreys.

Which type of DNA is inherited exclusively from the mother?

Mitochondrial DNA.

How many base pairs does the human genome approximately contain?

Approximately 3 billion base pairs.

What are the four nitrogenous bases found in DNA?

Adenine (A), Guanine (G), Cytosine (C), and Thymine (T).

Which method allows for the amplification of multiple DNA sequences in a single PCR reaction?

Multiplex PCR.

What is the primary mechanism behind mutations in STRs during DNA replication?

Slipped strand mispairing.

Which technique is commonly used for the visualization of DNA after extraction?

Agarose gel electrophoresis.

What is the significance of tandemly repetitive DNA in forensic analysis?

It exhibits high variability, allowing for individual identification.

What is the difference between a homozygote and a heterozygote?

A homozygote has two identical alleles, while a heterozygote has two different alleles at a locus.

Which of the following is a disadvantage of DNA analysis? A) High sensitivity B) Requires nucleated cells C) Unique identification D) Long storage life

B) Requires nucleated cells.

What role do exons and introns play in the structure of genes?

Exons are functional parts of genes, while introns are non-functional segments.

Which polymerase is commonly used in PCR for DNA amplification?

Taq polymerase.

What is the probability of a match in DNA profiling using SGM+ loci in the UK population?

1 in 50 million.

How are microsatellites defined in terms of repeat unit length?

They consist of short tandemly repeating units of 1 to 6 base pairs.

What is the purpose of an allelic ladder in DNA analysis?

To provide a reference for identifying and sizing alleles in DNA samples.

Which DNA analysis method bypasses the complications of genetic dominance?

DNA testing methods.

Which technique is used to perform automated DNA sequencing?

Capillary electrophoresis.

What are the two key types of DNA found in the human genome?

Nuclear DNA and mitochondrial DNA.

What does STR stand for in the context of forensic genetics?

Short Tandem Repeat.

What type of DNA markers are used for highly polymorphic regions in forensic identification?

Tandemly repeated DNA sequences.

Which system in the USA is based on 13 specific STR loci for forensic DNA profiling?

CODIS system.

What is the maximum number of amplifications that modern thermal cyclers can perform simultaneously?

96 PCRs.

Which of the following is NOT a type of STR based on repeat unit length? A) Di-nucleotide B) Tri-nucleotide C) Hexa-nucleotide D) Tetra-nucleotide

C) Hexa-nucleotide.

What is the discriminatory power of DNA profiling compared to traditional blood grouping systems?

DNA profiling has greater discriminatory power.

What is the significance of the amelogenin locus in forensic DNA profiling?

It is used for gender identification.

What is the primary advantage of using fluorescent dyes in automated DNA analysis?

They allow for the tagging of different loci, enabling multiplexing.

What type of repeat sequences are characterized as having longer units than microsatellites, typically ranging from 16 to 80 bp?

Minisatellites.

What is the function of internal standards in DNA analysis?

To ensure accurate sizing of alleles in samples.

What are the primary advantages of using DNA for identification in forensic science?

DNA identification has key advantages.

• Found in many cells.

• Unique to each person.

• Extractable from fluids.

In the context of forensic genetics, what is the significance of Variable Number of Tandem Repeats (VNTR)?

VNTRs are DNA markers that show high variability among individuals, making them effective for human identification in forensic cases.