2. What we think we know...
DNA is a special type of evidence found in a body
DNA can be fingerprints, hair, or blood
DNA is unchangeable

3. What we think we know...
DNA can be used to exclude and include suspects
You need technology to use DNA evidence
Without DNA there won’t be any proof
You have to put the evidence in good hands, so it won’t be tampered with

4. What we think we know...
DNA can also convict the wrong person just by them being at the scene
DNA gives us a lot of information about the person so we can identify them

5. Questions we have...
Is DNA evidence alone enough to convict or exonerate someone?
What if we don’t have DNA evidence?
Why do we have DNA?
How long or how many steps does it take to get DNA test results back?
Can we do public DNA testing in Detroit?

6. Questions we have… What is the process for using DNA evidence?
Can DNA evidence be wrong?
What can be used as DNA evidence?
Do you need some kind of DNA scanner to match DNA?
How can DNA still be used many years later? Does it have to go in a freezer?

7. Brainstorm: 5 things you think you know about DNA evidence
3 questions you have about DNA evidence

8. DNA Evidence
Notes 1

9. What is DNA?
Let’s watch this video real quick: NGe4aY

10. What did we see? DNA is a “blueprint molecule” for living things
DNA and RNA tell a cell how to build proteins
Proteins are used to make new cells, and to perform life functions

11. What is DNA? HUGE biological molecule Found in all living things
Double helix shape (twisted ladder) usually coiled up in nucleus
Made of base pairs and backbone

12. What does DNA do? The backbone provides stability
The base pairs provide instructions for building amino acids and proteins
These instructions are called genes
99.99% of genes are identical within a species

13. Wait...I thought we all had different DNA??
Only 80% of a human DNA molecule codes for genes
What about the other 20%?
We don’t know what “non-coding” base pairs are for
But, since these base pairs are non-coding, they are totally different for each individual organism. We call them filler DNA and we can use them to differentiate and identify individuals.