Past Events > GROW 2002 > DNA Detectives

GROW 2002 Summer Workshop - DNA Detectives

Presented By: Dr. Tuajuanda Jordan, Assoc. Prof in Chemistry, Interim Associate Dean, College of A&S, Xavier Univ. of Louisiana

DNA is the biological molecule that contains all of your genetic information. All humans have DNA that has certain common characteristics. Understanding the structure of DNA helps scientists better understand diseases. Additionally, an individual's DNA can be used to identify her because everyone, with the exception of identical twins, has DNA that, when analyzed on an individual basis, has characteristics unique to that individual.

In this activity GROW girls became familiar with DNA and some of its properties. Girls were forensic scientists called in to help solve a crime. The criminal had left evidence from which the girls collected DNA. They isolated the DNA, analyzed it and used their data to help the police detectives solve the case.