RENS| OC. PETER P. NG, M.D., MH. UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS - FACULTY OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY SCHOOL YEAR 2017-2018 Objectives ‘After studying this material you should be able to: 1. Know the definition and purpose of forensic biochemistry; 2. Know what is the meaning of “forensics” and its applications; 3. Know what is the Locard's Principle and the Evidence triangle; Know what is the meaning of Physical Evidence and its relation to the evidence triangle; 4, Know the applicable forensic DNA principles 5. Know what is DNA analysis and its importance; 6. Know what are the forensic uses of DNA analysis; 7. Describe the different DNA technologies and their importance; 8. Describe how DNA is isolated; 9. Explain the theoretical basis for the use of DNA profiling, also called DNA fingerprinting, as a tool for the identification of individuals or determination of the relationships of organisms; 410. Describe the role of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and gel electrophoresis in the preparation of a DNA profile. CASE PRESENTATION: ROMANOV'S DNA REQUIRED READING: Butler, John M, 2005. Elsevier. Forensic DNA Typing: Biology, Technology, Genetics of STR Markers, 2" Edition, London. REFERENCES: Crime Scene Search Study Guide 2003 A special report from the National Institute of Justice (July 2002). Some are sourced from the internet. Human Genome Project Information Website Isenberg, Alice and Jodi Moore. (1999) Mitochondrial DNA Analysis at the FBI Laboratory. Forensic Science Communication. FBI. Volume 1. July 1999, Ng, Peter, Philipp U. Po. (2006) Forensic Science. Philippine College of Medical Researchers Incorporated, Central Lawbooks Incorporated, Quezon Avenue. Using DNA to Solve Cold Cases - A special report from the National institute of Justice (July 2002). htto:www.dna.gov http://www. limu.ac. uk/courses/undergraduate/S8211.htm http://science.howstuffworks.com http:/www.scientific. org/tutorials/articles/riley/riley html http://www.dnatestingcentre. com/Mitochondrial.htm http://www.smagf.org/pages/ychromosome.jspx “Don't only practice your art, but force your way into its secrets, for it and knowledge can raise men to the divine.” Ludwig van BeethovenFORENSIC BIOCHEMISTRY 1. Introduction Forensic biochemistry is the application of standard biochemical techniques and assays to criminal investigations. In the context of a criminal investigation, the results ‘obtained from these tests may have a dramatic impact on the life of a person accused of a crime, an accused could be wrongly convicted or erroneously freed. In most instances, very simple techniques can be employed to determine a great deal of information about the chemical nature of a sample of material that has been collected as evidence at a crime scene. For the aforementioned reasons, itis important that the tests are simple and the results reliable, ‘The word “Forensic” means characteristic of, or suitable for, a court of law. It has to something to do with the presentation of “real or object" evidences in the court of law. Hence forensic science is a broad term that embraces all of the scientific disciplines that are utilized in investigations with the goal of bringing criminals to justice. Biochemistry ridges chemistry and biology, but is a major branch of science in its own right. Biochemistry provides a means of investigating virtually all biological problems at the molecular level Forensic Science utilizes a wide arsenal for techniques from various scientific disciplines, ranging from visual examination to physical or chemical analysis. Forensic Biochemistry is one of the braches of forensic science. (htip://www.ljmu.ac.uk/ courses/undergraduate/58211.htm) The recent breakthroughs in DNA technology or DNA analysis like DNA finger printing (Alec Jeffreys of Leicester University, U.K.) and scientific instrumentation and also the innovations in the other fields like Biochemistry and Biotechnology play a major role in the development of Forensic Science. This rapidly expanding science has profited greatly from recent advances such as the human genome project. In the last two decades, spectacular advances have been made at the frontiers between disciplines, greatly increasing our understanding of the biochemical workings of living organisms, the chemical basis of reproduction and heredity, and the nature of disease The last decade of forensic science has been dominated by genetic analysis. Lawyers and forensic scientists now focus on Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) testing to prove the guilt or innocence of those accused of crimes, pushing traditional techniques such as fingerprint analysis into the background (Ng Po, 2008). 2. Physical Evidence and the Principle of Interchange of Evidence Principle of Interchange. (Crime Scene Search Study Guide 2003) Based on the Locard’s Exchange Principle thal, “Every Contact Leaves its Trace." The basis for trace analysis in forensic science is the statement made in 1910 by the French criminologist, Dr. Edmond Locard: "Every contact leaves a trace." Since physical contact is involved in almost every crime, the analysis of trace evidence plays a crucial role in crime scene investigation. No one can enter an environment without leaving some trace of his or her presence and without carrying away some trace of that environment (e.g., a crime scene), Locard’s Principle is the comerstone of Forensic science. According to Edmund Locard, whenever there is an interaction between the criminal suspect and the victim in the crime scene, trace evidence will be taken away or be left behind in the crime scene. Trace evidence necessarily includes DNA evidence. Some examples of interchange: 1. Blood — drops on floor, suspect clothing, ete. 2. Hair — pulled from victim or suspect. 3. Finger Impressions — Victim on suspects’ property or suspects’ at crime scene. 2|PageFORENSIC BIOCHEMISTRY Evidence Triangle. (Crime Scene Search Study Guide 2003) The evidence triangle, through physical evidence, establishes a link between the various facets of the crime scene, the victim, and the suspect. All of these components must be connected for a successful resolution of the case. Scene ‘SUSPECT: ‘Victim The Evidence Triangle Physical Evidence. (Crime Scene Search Study Guide 2003) Physical evidence is any object, smell, marking or impression, no matter how small, which may assist the investigator in the reconstruction of the crime, lead to the identification of the criminal, provide a link between a crime and its victim, or a crime and its perpetrator. It can be as large as a house, small as a fiber, or ingenious as an odor. 1. In practically every case, the criminal will leave or carry away some physical evidence. 2. Physical evidence may require laboratory processing to render it useable in the investigation or in court. 3. Physical evidence usually plays several important roles in the judicial process: a) Ithelps establish the elements of the crime. b) It helps reconstruct the crime or the crime scene. ©) It may help associate or dissociate defendants with crimes. ) It can furnish proof as to the truth or falsity of an allegation. 4. Some additional benefits and/or expectations of physical evidence’ a) A suspect confronted with physical evidence may confess. b) It can be used to corroborate eyewitness testimony. ©) Juries have come to expect physical evidence in criminal cases. Deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA is one of the most important physical evidence discovered in the past 30 years 3. Forensic DNA Principles 3.1. Mendelian Law of Inheritance. ion Law Some alleles are dominant while others are recessive; an organism Law of Dominance with at least one dominant allele will display the effect of the dominant allele During gamete formation, the alleles for each gene segregate Law of Segregation from each other so that each gamete carries only one allele for each gene. Genes for different traits can segregate independently during the formation of gametes. Law of Independent Assortment 3.2 Ng's Principles of Forensic DNA Study 3.2.1, Principle of the Union of nDNA. Whenever the haploid nDNA of the sperm and ovum unite in a zygote, the totality of the united nDNA is a proof of such union This is the basis of parentage study. 3|Page