My DNA Analysis in Forensic Science Semester-Long Class: Course Outline
DNA Basics (Review)
These review notes help refresh students' memories about DNA (which they should have learned about in Biology. These are the basics: What is DNA & where do we find it.
DNA Tools Lab
This lab teaches students the names of the tools they'll use in DNA Analysis, and how to use those tools.
I sell the DNA Tools lab on TPT. It includes the booklet, all instructions for the lab
set up, an answer key, and the digital make up lab.
Graduated Cylinder Metric Tools Lab
This lab gives students practice measuring accurately with graduated cylinders, and teaches them to check for accuracy.
Strawberry DNA Lab
DNA as Evidence in solving crimes
The Green River Killer case study
The Innocence Project (using DNA to exonerate the wrongly convicted)
In this activity, students explore the Innocence Project - What it is and how they use DNA to free those that have been wrongly convicted of crimes. This activity is a "hook" that helps students understand the importance of DNA evidence in Forensic Science. This also helps illustrate some of the issues with other types of evidence used in these convictions, such as eyewitness testimony and faulty interrogations.
Micropipette Lab (Protocols from Fred Hutchinson's SEP program)
This lab teaches students to correctly use the micropipettes they will need for the DNA lab without breaking them.
Electrophoresis Exploration Lab (Protocols from Fred Hutchinson's SEP program)
Dye Lab (Protocols from Fred Hutchinson's SEP program)
DNA Lab - gel electrophoresis to solve a crime (Protocols from Fred Hutchinson's SEP program)
Familial/ Partial matches
Using DNA Genealogy to solve cold cases
Personal DNA Testing & Privacy Concerns
GATTACA
This awesome movie from the 90's with Ethan Hawke, Jude Law & Uma Thurman shows the dangers of giving up too much of our DNA privacy - and of relying too much on the information we can get from DNA. By this point in the class, many students believe that we should collect more DNA than we do for our national database. This movie is a good way for them to see the dangers of giving up DNA privacy. Trigger alert: There is a suicide at the end of the movie. It may be a topic you need to discuss with kids.
Case Study Suggestions
The Green River Killer
The Golden State Killer
The Innocence Project
The Innocence Project is a great intro or hook for the DNA Analysis Unit. The Innocence Project frees people who have been wrongly convicted. In most cases, the evidence used to exonerate the wrongly convicted person is DNA evidence. Their case studies address forensic evidence that is no longer accepted as individualistic, such as microscopic hair analysis and bite mark analysis. This is also a great way to discuss eyewitness testimony and false confessions.
Innocence Project Booklet
I developed an Innocence Project Booklet for my students. Students use the Innocence Project website to research what the Innocence Project does, then research an individual case and present to the class.
My Innocence Project Booklet is available for sale in my TPT store (coming soon).