Visitors to this Site:
DNA Forensics Track
B.S.
Biology/Chemistry
General
Information
Director: Dr. Ted Nuttall (more information at Dr. Nuttall's Homepage)
Introduction:
With the rise in interest and job opportunities in DNA forensics (since the OJ Simpson case, 9/11 disaster, war crimes investigations, and others), this option will give students hands-on experiences with the actual instrumentation and kits used by crime labs. In the DNA Forensics Track, students will learn laboratory skills to isolate, purify, quantify, and preserve DNA from humans (and other sources); setup and run terminal dideoxy-sequencing (BigDye®) and genotyping (Profiler Plus®) reactions using PCR; and setup, run, troubleshoot, tear down, and interpret data from the ABI 310 Genetic Analyzer. The laboratory work will also include Quality Control measures such as thermal cycler temperature verification, matrix construction for DNA sequencing and genotyping, and micropipet calibration. Students will also learn the theories behind DNA Forensics, including population genetics, statistics, chemistry, physics (for instrument operation), molecular biology, immunology, chemical instrumentation, and cell biology. DNA Forensics is a demanding field with great working conditions, salaries, and advancement, but it is also very competitive. This field demands that you prove yourself and your capabilities over and over—it is a real confidence builder!
DNA Forensics
Track at LHU:
Students
in this track, which is within the B.S. Biology/Chemistry Major, will learn the theory and laboratory skills of modern DNA
Forensics, including DNA isolation and preservation techniques, PCR, automated
DNA sequencing, and STR-based genotyping (currently the world standard). The DNA Forensics Track students will take
all the required General Education courses (including Calculus I), and the
Area/Core courses in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology found in the
Biology/Chemistry Program. While all
students are introduced to DNA Forensics early in their path, such as in Principles
of Biology II, more formal introduction starts in the spring of the Sophomore
year with Introduction to DNA Forensics, a one-credit class that gives students
the overview of the field, including current techniques, terminology,
regulations, and infrastructure of the DNA Forensics community. In the Fall of the
Junior year, students will learn all relevant molecular techniques, such as
pipetting, DNA isolation using phenol extractions, restriction digestions, gel
electrophoresis, Southern blotting, hybridization, and DNA sequencing, in Cell
& Molecular Biology. Additional
supporting courses in the Junior and Senior years include Microbiology,
Biochemistry, Quantitative Chemistry, Instrumental Analysis, and Immunology. Laboratory specialization in DNA Forensics
will be seen in the final 17 hours of the major (see below). All students who reach the Junior
and Senior Year with a 2.5 GPA are encouraged to enroll in either an
Independent Study or Internship to gain first-hand experience in Forensic
techniques. Anyone interested in
pursuing this Track should contact Dr. Ted Nuttall
in Ulmer Hall 307 (570-484-2058 or tnuttall@lhup.edu).
DNA Forensics Track: A Suggested 4-Year Course Plan
(120 s.h.)
Fall Semester Spring
Semester
Freshman
Year Principles
of Biology I (3) Principles of Biology II (3)
Principles of Chemistry I (4) Principles of Chemistry
II (4)
Gen Ed (7) Calculus
I (3)
Total =
14 s.h. Gen
Ed (6)
Total
= 16 s.h.
Sophomore
Year Botany (3) Genetics (3)
Organic Chemistry I (4) Organic Chemistry
II (4)
Physics I (4) Physics II (4)
Gen Ed (3) *Intro DNA Forensics (1)
Total = 14 s.h. Gen Ed (3)
Total = 15 s.h.
Junior Year Cell & Molecular Biology (4)
*Forensic DNA Sequencing (2)
Microbiology (4) Biochemistry (4)
Quantitative Chemistry (4) *Instrumental Analysis (4)
Gen Ed (3) Gen
Ed (6)
Total =
15 s.h. Total
= 16 s.h.
Senior Year *Forensic Genotyping (2) *Chemical Literature (1)
*Biology Elective (3) Organismal
Physiology (3)
*Chemistry
Elective (4) Immunology (2)
Gen Ed (6) Gen
Ed (9)
Total = 15 s.h.
Total = 15 s.h.
*
Courses part of the 17 s.h. of Required Courses for the
proposed DNA Forensics Track.
All
science courses (Biology, Chemistry, and Physics) are taught in Ulmer Hall:
Biology courses are in Blue, Chemistry courses are in Green, and Physics is in Red.
The
above
schedule of courses is only a suggestion; there can be other equally effective
possibilities.
Other suggested courses:
MATH107 Statistics
During Sophomore or Junior year, begin Criminal Justice courses:
CRJS102 Introduction to Criminal Justice
CRJS240 Introduction to Law Enforcement
CRJS310 Criminal Investigation
Independent Studies and Internships: One student completed and internship with the
Fish and Wildlife Agency where he used DNA Sequencing to verify a strain of virus
infecting salmon. Other students
completed internships at the Reading Police Department and the Armed Forces DNA
Identification Laboratory, in
Equipment that DNA
Forensics Students will use:
This equipment supports all instruction in DNA Forensics, as well as many other courses and research projects that can benefit from DNA sequence analysis.
1. AB
310 DNA Analyzer. This instrument can sequence
DNA and generate human identification data used in forensics. It is the actual instrument found in about
70% of crime labs in the U.S.
2. AB GeneAmp PCR System 9700 thermal cycler. This instrument copies DNA and generates the samples to be analyzed on the 310 DNA Analyzer. This thermal cycler is among the best available.
3. Temperature Verification System. This probe and instrument combination from AB verifies that the 9700 thermal cycler is working properly. Absolutely necessary for quality control in DNA Forensics.
4. Eppendorf Mini-Centrifuge, Dead-air box, Biosafety Cabinet, Autoclaves, and miscellaneous supplies. These pieces of equipment are needed to useDNA isolation kits, clean up kits for samples to be run on the 310 DNA Analyzer, etc.
5. Pipette Calibration System. A system to verify precision and accuracy of micropipettes (we use Pipetman® pipets, the best in the world). This is an accreditation- recognized system used by many clinical labs, hospitals, and crime labs.
Alumni in DNA-based
Identification or Forensics:
Ø Susanna Ulery, Bode Technology Group, Virginia
Ø
Jennie Groover, Armed Forces DNA Identification
Laboratory,
Ø
Christina Plourde, Armed Forces DNA
Identification Laboratory,
Ø
Holly Bofinger, Armed Forces DNA Identification
Laboratory,
Ø
Dan Smith, Armed Forces DNA Identification
Laboratory,
Ø Luke Stewart, Johns Hopkins, Senior Lab Technician in the Genotyping Facility
Ø Roy Rich, Johns Hopkins, Lab Technician in the Tissue-Typing Laboratory, Masters Student
Ø
Dana Campbell, Johns
Ø
Todd Harvey, PA State Crime Lab,
Ø Neal Rerko, PA State Crime Lab, Forensic Scientist II, Lima, PA
Of course many other alumni are in Graduate Programs in molecular biology and genetics, medical schools, or employed in private industry (Merck, Johnson and Johnson, Wyeth, etc.).
Dr. Nuttall’s Experience:
Ø
Advanced
310 Analyzer & AmpFLSTR® Kit, Applied Biosystems Inc,
Ø
Advanced
310 Analyzer & AmpFLSTR® Kit, Applied Biosystems Inc,
Ø
Statistics
Workshop, 12th International Symposium on Human Identification,
Ø DNA Sequencing Instruction by Applied Biosystems on the 310 Analyzer, Lock Haven, 2001
Ø
Clinical Laboratory Director (consulting),
Advanced Molecular Diagnostics, Inc., Williamsport, PA, 1993–1996
Ø
HIV
Quantitation by RT-PCR, Roche Diagnostic Systems,
Ø
Human
Identification using STRs, PCR Workshop, Promega Corp.,
Ø
Clinical
Applications (including Human Identification using DQα)
of PCR Symposium and Workshop, Roche Molecular Systems, CA, 8/93
Ø
Basic
and Clinical Molecular Diagnostic Applications, Clinical Laboratories of
Central Blood Bank,
Ø
Clinical
PCR training,
Ø
NSF
Short Course: Teaching Molecular Biology in Undergraduate Institutions, Univ.
of Wisconsin-La Crosse, 6/91
Ø
DNA
Sequencing, IBI Short Course,
Ø
Nucleic
Acid/Protein Sequence Analysis Workshop,
Ø
Population
Genetics Research and Training,
Ø
Electrophoresis
training for Population Genetics, SUNY at Stony Brook, 7/85