Crime Scene Scenario Imagine the following: Scene: Unguarded Apartment Complex 7038 Dark Alley Nowhereville, XQ 04073 Setting: Apartment 6B Mr. and Mrs. Worrywart decided to take their family on a much needed trip at the end of the summer. Their children, Jane and Joe, were excited to be spending a week at the beach before they had to go back to school. Mr. Worrywart was concerned about leaving their apartment unoccupied while they were on vacation, so he arranged to have a friend stop by to check on things until they returned. Unfortunately, when the family arrived home yesterday, they were shocked to find their home was in disarray and all of their valuables had disappeared! Mr. Worrywart immediately called 911. When the police arrived, they began to examine the crime scene. It appeared to be a robbery, but with no obvious clues as to who committed the crime. There were no signs of forced entry, and there were no fingerprints that could not be accounted for. It is possible, however, that the perpetrators used gloves. A forensic specialist was called in to examine the crime scene and collect trace evidence (small but measurable amounts of physical or biological material). Even when it seems like there is no evidence left behind by the culprits, the specialist can use laboratory tests that can tell who was at the crime scene from a drop of blood or a single strand of hair. Testing is regularly done in forensic testing labs across the US and in many other parts of the world from only a single cell. To be able to perform these tests, forensic scientists need biological evidence to work with. Often, there is very little material left at the scene of a crime, and not in quantities that will allow analysis. Luckily for the Worrywart family, several different cells were recovered from the crime scene and have been labeled as evidence. These cells are from the bags the culprit used to carry the valuables out of the Worrywart’s home. Since the bags were heavy, they had to be dragged across the floor leaving cells behind. Your challenge is to identify the origin of these cells by classifying them as either plant cells, animal cells, or neither. You must record your findings in a Forensic Lab Report that will be used in future court proceedings.

SUSPECT A SUSPECT B SUSPECT C Height: 182 cm Weight: 210 lbs Eyes: blue Hair: blonde Possessions: clothing, baseball hat, watch, wallet, $13.56, cotton bag SUSPECT B Height: 177 cm Weight: 135 lbs Eyes: hazel Hair: brown Possessions: clothing, earrings, bracelet, purse, $6.75, leather bag SUSPECT C Height: 189 cm Weight: 240 lbs Eyes: brown Hair: black Possessions: clothing, ring, watch, wallet, $24.90, plastic bag

State Bureau of Investigation Department of Justice Forensic Lab Report 432 Crime Scene Lane, Misdemeanor, XZ 98765 Phone: (123) 555-4567 Fax: (123) 555-8910 www.examiningtheevidence.com To: Sensational Elementary School Attn: Mrs. Teacher 101 Cutting Edge Drive Entertaining, IQ 24073 Report Date: Examined by: ITEMS SUBMITTED The following items were submitted by Officer Meticulous of Law-breaker County Sherriff’s Office by way of Federal Express: ITEM NUMBER(S) One brown box containing: 1 DESCRIPTION One plastic bag marked “Law-breaker County Sherriff’s Office Entry 080122093 Tag KC070276 Item Number ” containing an image of a cell taken with an electron microscope. FACTS SIGNIFICANT TO THE CASE In the boxes below, draw simple “composite sketches” of a plant cell and an animal cell. Label any identifying features on each of the diagrams. PLANT CELL ANIMAL CELL

EXAMINATION OF EVIDENCE Attach your cell sample in the space below. Accurately label the identifying characteristics of your cell. ANALYSIS OF RESULTS The conclusion you come up with must be based on your own observations. Remember that all the evidence needed to classify the cell is right in front of you. Inferences should be based only on observations of the evidence. After careful analysis of the sample, we have determined that this is a(n) cell. Based on the evidence, justify your results on the lines below. Refer to specific examples from your cell sample to support your conclusion.

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