4.08 Genetic Park: DNA Application

We have one last stop before we finish your tour through Genetic Park. Here at Genetic Park we believe that knowledge is power. We also believe that it is important give back to the community that supports us. With the cutting edge of Technology, we have scientists working around the clock at our Genetic Park Research Institute, hopefully to find the cures of tomorrow.

In this activity you will: describe the importance of technology as a catalyst for past, present, and future scientific discoveries compare DNA segments on a gel electrophoresis evaluate the use of technology in the field of genetics

Hey, there go Jean and Joe. They have been with Genetic Park for several years now; almost as long as I have been here. Most of the time, I can’t tell them apart. Can you?

Did you know that identical twins have matching DNA, but do not have matching fingerprints? Identical twins develop from one egg and one sperm that separate during early development. Fraternal twins are two eggs fertilized with two sperm. They can be as different as my brother and I. (Recall that each egg and sperm contain unique genes.)

Take a trip out on the Web and have a look at the picture of DNA from four sets of twins. The picture shows some pieces of DNA (dark bands) that have been separated in a chemical process. The DNA in group A and D is from fraternal twins. The DNA in groups B and C is from identical twins. Do you see any differences?

Wonderquest: Identical Twins Have the Same DNA

What does the link say about identical twins if one of them commits a crime? Can police use DNA evidence?

If you have completed the activities in this introduction, move on to the BioVenture tab.