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Unit 1: The Mystery
Study Guide 2014-2015
This study guide provides specific examples of the information you should have acquired from the
activities in class for each of the Essential Questions. If you can answer all of the questions and you
know the Key terms you should be prepared for the Unit 1 test.
Unit 1.1 Investigating the Scene
1.
2.

What is biomedical science?

What is forensic science?
What can be done at a scene of a mysterious death to help reconstruct what
happened?

What are the 5 steps of crime scene processing?

Why do you think it is important to use these steps?

What is your current theory about Anna’s cause of death? Support it with evidence.
How do the clues found at a scene of a mysterious death help investigators
determine what might have occurred and help identify or exonerate potential
suspects?

What is the importance of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in investigating a
crime?

How can blood typing be used to link potential suspects to a crime scene?

Describe how a forensic chemist would be able to determine the type of pill found at a
crime scene.
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
What were the pills found at the crime scene?

When a forensic scientist collects hair from a crime scene what could they determine
about the owner?

Draw or find an examples of a fingerprints that have a loop or whirl parttern.

How was Anna’s time of death determined?
How do scientists design experiments to find the most accurate answer to the
question they are asking?

What are the main parts in the experimental design process. (See step 5 on the
Biomedical Sciences Experimental Design handout)

Why is it important to include a control group whenever possible in an experiment?

Define: Independent variable

Define: Dependent variable
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Identify the independent variable, dependent variable, experimental and control groups
in the following studies:
A group of college students were given a short course in speed-reading. The instructor was
curious if a monetary incentive would influence performance on a reading test taken at the
end of the course. Half the students were offered $5 for obtaining a certain level of
performance on the test, the other half were not offered money.
Independent variable:
Dependent variable:
Experimental group:
Control group:
Big Pharma Drug Company is conducting research of their new drug Attendomax to improve
the note-taking behavior of college students diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder. Fifty of the students receive capsules contain Attendomax, another fifty receive
capsules which look the same but actually contain the drug Ritalin which has been used for
many years. All students attend the same series of lectures and have their notes collected
afterwards. Notes are scored for completeness and accuracy.
Independent variable:
Dependent variable:
Experimental group:
Control group:
4. How are bloodstain patterns left at a crime scene used to help investigators establish
the events that took place during a crime?

What information about a crime scene can be obtained by analyzing a bloodstain
pattern?

How can height of a blood drop be determined?

What shape will be produced when a blood drop hits a surface from a 90 degree angle?
5. Internet Domains/Plagiarism
 What is the difference between a primary and a secondary source?

Which is better for research?
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What internet domains are the most reliable? Why?

Define: Plagiarism

What is the difference between a citation and a bibliography?
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Unit 1.2 DNA Analysis
1.
2.
What is DNA?
 What does DNA stand for?

Where is DNA located?

What does DNA determine about us?

How does DNA fit in the nucleus of a cell?

What is the basic structural unit of DNA?

What are the three components of a nucleotide?

What are the four bases in DNA?

What are Chargaff’s base pair rules?

What are the two classification categories for nitrogen bases and what makes them
different?

What is the shape of DNA?
How do scientists isolate DNA in order to study it?
 What is used to break down cell membranes when isolating DNA?

What is the step-by-step processed used to isolated DNA from a strawberry?

Why is alcohol used in this procedure?
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Why is would the DNA isolation procedure be different for a plant vs. and animal
cell?

If you isolated DNA from a kiwi and DNA from a steak would it look the same?
Explain.

What evidence from the crime scene would provide DNA?
3.
How does DNA differ from person to person?
 What is only exception to the fact that DNA is unique for every individual?
4.
How can tools of molecular biology be used to compare the DNA of two
individuals?
 What is a DNA profile?

How can a DNA profile be used in a criminal case?
5.
What are restriction enzymes?
6.
What are restriction fragment length polymorphisms?
7.
What is gel electrophoresis and how can the results of this technique be
interpreted?

What are the steps in running a gel?

Why does the DNA move across the gel?

Why are bands formed after the gel is run?
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Unit 1.3 The Findings
1.
2.
What is an autopsy and how can it be used to determine the cause of death?
 Define: Autopsy

What are some of the tools used in an autopsy and how are they used?

When is an autopsy performed?

Who can perform an autopsy?

What is included in an autopsy report?

What are the basic steps in an autopsy? (external exam, internal exam, etc)
How can the manner of death be determined?
 What is the difference between cause and manner of death?

What are three examples of manner of death?

What are two examples of cause of death?
3.
Why is confidentiality of patient information important?
4.
Who should keep patient information confidential?
5.
Is there ever a time when patient confidentiality should be broken?
6.
What biomedical science professionals are involved in crime scene analysis and
determination of manner of death? (List at least 5.)
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