Year 7 Forensic Science

Our highly proficient Year 7 Forensic Science students recently completed two interesting units in their course. 

DNA extraction:

All living organisms have DNA, which is short for deoxyribonucleic acid; it is basically the blueprint for everything that happens inside an organism’s cells. Overall, DNA tells an organism how to develop and function and scientists study DNA for many reasons, including developing new medicines, innovations in agriculture and solving crimes. During a DNA extraction, a detergent will cause the cell to pop open so that the DNA is released into the solution. Then alcohol is added to the solution causing the DNA to precipitate out. Our students used strawberries in this DNA extraction activity because each strawberry cell has eight copies of the genome, giving them a lot of DNA per cell. Most organisms only have one genome copy per cell.

Fingerprint Analysis:

A fingerprint is an impression left by the friction ridges of a human finger. The recovery of partial fingerprints from a crime scene is an important method of forensic science. Moisture and grease on a finger result in fingerprints on surfaces such as glass or metal. Deliberate impressions of entire fingerprints can be obtained by ink or other substances transferred from the peaks of friction ridges on the skin to a smooth surface such as paper. Students took their own fingerprints and analysed the different characteristics of fingerprints. They also ‘dusted’ for fingerprints left on surfaces. 

We have one more session left in this engaging Forensic Science series and we look forward to working with our students in week 7.

Visit from Acting Inspector Sean Clarke:

A visit from crime scene expert Acting Inspector Sean Clarke. Sean is an experienced police officer attached to Wagga Crime Scene Services Branch. Sean was able to inform students of many of the procedures he must undertake when investigating crime scenes. Students were able to ask a variety of questions and were very interested in the situations that he described. Sean also presented students with their Forensic Science certificates and the group enjoyed a celebratory lunch together. Congratulations on a great series of forensic activities and we hope that many of you may go on to study the sciences and perhaps even become forensic science experts.

Mrs Gaiter and Mrs Murphy | Science Teachers