Teaching and Learning 

in Action

Could DNA evidence prove someone was wrongfully convicted?

That was the challenge facing our Year 9/10 Forensic Science students during their recent practical, aptly titled 'Wrongfully Convicted'.

Students investigated a hypothetical miscarriage of justice, using DNA profiling and agarose gel electrophoresis to analyse evidence and determine whether the person convicted could be excluded as the perpetrator.

Along the way, students put some impressive molecular biology skills into practice, including micropipetting, PCR principles and gel electrophoresis, while learning how Short Tandem Repeat (STR) profiles and probability are used in real-world forensic investigations.

A fascinating look at how DNA can be used not only to help solve crimes, but also to exonerate those who may have been wrongly convicted!