Association for Biology Laboratory Education

Whodunit? A Murder Mystery for Teaching Biology
 

Joann M. Lau & Dave L. Robinson

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 2008, Volume 29

Abstract

From Sherlock Holmes to modern-days sleuths, the tremendous explosion of interest in the science of forensics is all around us. Turn on the television and you will see popular shows like CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Cold Case, and Crossing Jordan all bolstering interest in forensics. In this exercise students gain hands-on experience in a breadth of fields, including latent fingerprints analysis, ABO/Rh typing, urine analysis, paper chromatography, as well as analysis of hair and fiber evidence. Students also execute molecular techniques such as setting up a restriction enzyme digest, preparing agarose gels, electrophoresis, and staining to visualize ‘DNA profiles.’

Keywords:  agarose gel electrophoresis, DNA fingerprint, forensics, blood, fingerprints

University of Kentucky (2007)