Unit: Genetics Topic: DNA Fingerprinting

Do Now: What evidence is used in criminal cases to convict a suspect?

Essential Question- How is DNA fingerprinting and its corresponding DNA analysis techniques
used in our everyday lives?

Standards Performance:

HS-LS1-1. 
Construct an explanation based on evidence for how the structure of DNA determines the
structure of proteins which carry out the essential functions of life through systems of specialized
cells.

Performance Objectives:
Students will be able to…

 Describe DNA fingerprinting and the corresponding DNA analysis techniques

 Demonstrate the use of restriction enzymes and gel electrophoresis by interpreting DNA
data and determining the appropriate culprit in a criminal case.   

Vocabulary:
DNA Fingerprinting- A laboratory technique used to determine the probable identity of a
person based on the nucleotide sequences of certain regions of human DNA that are unique to
individuals.

Restriction Enzymes- They are types of enzymes used to cleave (cut) DNA

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)- laboratory technique for rapidly producing (amplifying)
millions to billions of copies of a specific segment of DNA,

Gel Electrophoresis- Is a technique used to separate DNA fragments (negatively charged) based
on size using an electric current. 

Material List:
Worksheet
PowerPoint

Safety and Disposal:

N/A
Development of the Lesson:

Timing What the Teacher Does What the Students Do

Beginning of Lesson

3 min Ask students to read the Essential Question Students will read and copy the
and Do Now. Instruct the class to answer Learning Target, then answer the
the question while teacher prepares Do Now and share with class.
materials.

2 min Teacher will transition into the day's lesson Listen and participate during the
through the Anticipatory Opening (Who Anticipatory Opening.
Ate the Queen’s Cheese). Four suspects are
introduced, and the ‘crime’ is explained.
Students are told they will determine who
is the culprit by using DNA
Fingerprinting. 

Middle of Lesson

10 min Teacher will introduce the new vocabulary Listen to instructions and
words DNA Fingerprinting, Restriction participate in discussion.
Enzymes, PCR, and Gel Electrophoresis. 

Students will briefly discuss “How can

DNA Fingerprinting be used in Everyday
Life?”

25 min Teacher will introduce students to the day’s Students will listen to the
activity in which students are tasked to cut instruction and complete the
DNA segments for each suspect, like activity. They will ask question if
restriction Enzymes would, and shade in any.
the appropriate position of these segments
on a Gel Electrophoresis Chart. The
teacher would model the procedure using
the Crime Scene Data. 
Support students individually during the
activity.
 End of Lesson

5 min Answer the exit ticket, ask one student to Answer the exit ticket.
write answer on the board. Use appropriate
Vocabulary.

Homework:
N/A

Summative Assessment:
Exit Ticket
How is DNA fingerprinting and its corresponding DNA analysis techniques used in our everyday
lives?

Notes for Revision:

Do Now
What evidence is used in criminal cases to convict a suspect?

Vocabulary
Vocabulary Definition

DNA Fingerprinting A laboratory technique used to

determine the________________
of a person based on the
___________________________ of
certain regions of human ______
that are _________ to individuals.

Restriction Enzymes They are types of enzymes used to

___________________________
molecules at ________________
_____________.  

Gel Electrophoresis Is a technique used to __________

____________________________
(negatively charged) based on 
________using an_____________. 
 Who ate the Cheese Activity?
You are the detective in charge of finding out who ate the Queen’s Cheese? 
Below is a list of suspects. 

Suspect Data

Suspect Number: 1 Suspect Number 2

Name: The Princess
Description of Suspicion: The princess
was seen entering the sitting room earlier
in the evening. She is well known for her
love of cheese.
Name: The woman
Description of Suspicion: The woman was recently
involved in a relationship with the diplomat that sources
say ended badly. Her motive may have been to sabotage
the diplomat's gift to the Queen.

Suspect Number 3 Suspect Number 4

Name: The Maid Name: The Local Cheese Maker
Description of Suspicion: The maid was Description of Suspicion: The local Cheese makers may
in charge of cleaning the sitting room. not have wished for the Queen to have cheese from
She had access to the cheese. anywhere but his own shop.

Narrative: After receiving the package with the plastic bag marked Crime Scene, the DNA was
extracted from the hair strand. Because the sample was so small, the DNA was amplified using
the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We isolated the DNA from the four suspects and
compared them to the crime scene DNA using DNA restriction analysis. 

Instructions

1. The restriction enzyme cuts at each point it finds C C G G, always cutting between the
C and the G. Cut the samples below. 

        Example:    ….. A A A C C | G G T T T ….

2. Count and record the number of nucleotides (bases) for each segment of the DNA
sample. 
3. Shade in the appropriate squares (based on the number of nucleotides for each segment),
on the Gel Electrophoresis Chart.
4. Compare the crime scene DNA to the suspects and indicate on your chart, which suspect
is guilty of eating the cheese.
Analysis

1. Who ate the cheese? _________________________________

2. How do you know?_______________________________________________________
             _______________________________________________________________________. 

3. For each word below, describe how it relates to DNA Fingerprinting:

Polymerase Chain Reaction

____________________________________________________________________

Gel Electrophoresis

____________________________________________________________________

Restriction Enzyme

___________________________________________________________________
Gel Electrophoresis
Crime Scene Suspect 1 Suspect 2 Suspect 3 Suspect 4

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Exit Ticket-
Answer the questions based on the diagram below. 

This technique is called.

Who is the father of the baby?

How do you know he is the father?