Lesson 8.

8 DNA

Deoxyribonucleic Acid

The DNA Structure

Investigation Officers Basic Course

 Lesson 8.8 DNA

Learning Goal

To understand DNA and its

significance in crime
investigation.

Investigation Officers Basic Course

 Lesson 8.8 DNA

Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson, the participants will be
able to:
Define DNA;
Describe the basic characteristics of DNA;
List the types of DNA;
Enumerate the uses of DNA in criminal
investigation;
Cite the sources of DNA evidence in a crime
scene;
Describe how DNA analysis is done; and
Describe how DNA results are interpreted.
Investigation Officers Basic Course  
 Lesson 8.8 DNA

The PNP Crime Laboratory DNA Branch

Functions:
 Collect
 Preserve
 Secure all
evidence and
specimen
submitted
 Ensure them free
from any
contamination
 

Investigation Officers Basic Course

 Lesson 8.8 DNA

The DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a nucleic acid

that contains the genetic instructions used in
the development and functioning of all known
living organisms with the exception of some
viruses.

Investigation Officers Basic Course

 Lesson 8.8 DNA

PRINCIPLES OF DNA EVIDENCE

DNA and fingerprint

analyses are similar
in how matching is
done.

Investigation Officers Basic Course

 Lesson 8.8 DNA

DNA OVERVIEW

FROM THE WHOLE TO THE MICROSCOPIC PARTS

Investigation Officers Basic Course

 Lesson 8.8 DNA

CHARACTERISTICS OF DNA
 DNA or Deoxyribonucleic Acid is found in
almost every cell in the human body;
 DNA can be found in either nucleus of the cell
(nuclear DNA) or the mitochondria
(mitochondrial DNA) outside of the nucleus;
 DNA is the same in every cell;
 An individual’s DNA is formed by combination
of his or her parents DNA;

Investigation Officers Basic Course

 Lesson 8.8 DNA

CHARACTERISTICS OF DNA
Continuation..
 DNA can be preserved for decades, but
DNA at the crime scene can be degraded
due to environmental factors;
 DNA testing cannot tell officers the time
the DNA evidence was left in the crime
scene or how long it has been there; and
 DNA evidence is useless without any
standard to compare with, there is no
specimen to match or exclude.

Investigation Officers Basic Course

 Lesson 8.8 DNA

APPLICATIONS of DNA EVIDENCE

Fields of application of DNA Evidence are
as follows:
1. Casework
Link a suspect to a crime;
Exonerate a suspect from the crime;
 Develop leads.
2. Disaster Victim Identification
3. Questioned Parentage

Investigation Officers Basic Course

 Lesson 8.8 DNA

THE DNA ANALYSIS PROCESS

The DNA analysis process involves:

Receiving of Evidence
Evidence Sampling
DNA Isolation and Quantitation
Amplification
Detection and Data Analysis

Investigation Officers Basic Course

 Lesson 8.8 DNA

INTERPRETING DNA RESULTS

An electropherogram displays the DNA
genetic profile. Interpretations may be:
Single Source DNA Profile
Inclusion (Match) and Exclusion
Mixture
Partial Profile
No DNA Profile

Investigation Officers Basic Course

 Lesson 8.8 DNA

INTERPRETING DNA RESULTS

Single Source DNA Profile

Investigation Officers Basic Course

 Lesson 8.8 DNA

INTERPRETING DNA RESULTS

Inclusion (Match) and Exclusion

Investigation Officers Basic Course

 Lesson 8.8 DNA

INTERPRETING DNA RESULTS

Mixture

Investigation Officers Basic Course

 Lesson 8.8 DNA

INTERPRETING DNA RESULTS

Partial Profile

Investigation Officers Basic Course

 Lesson 8.8 DNA

QUESTION?

Investigation Officers Basic Course

 Lesson 8.8 DNA

SUMMARY
At the end of the lesson, we learned the
following:
PNP-CL DNA Branch is responsible for the
collection, preservation, security and
analysis of all evidence and specimen for
DNA analysis;
The principle of DNA and finger-print
analyses are similar in how matching is
done;

Investigation Officers Basic Course

 Lesson 8.8 DNA

SUMMARY
Continuation..

 The Basic characteristics of DNA;

 DNA evidence is useful in casework,
disaster victim identification and
parentage testing; and
 That the DNA evidence must undergo
several stages before a conclusion
can be reached.

Investigation Officers Basic Course