DNA Fingerprinting:
A Forensic Innovation
Michelle Poquette
Cabrillo High School
Lompoc Unified School District
poquette.michelle@lusd.org
Subject Area:
Science
Grade Level/s:
Grades 9-12
Project Description:
Students will demonstrate their knowledge of DNA fingerprinting, a technology used in
forensic science. They will apply what they learned from a web-based simulation to solve
a genetic mystery, which of three fish, walleye, perch and salmon are more closely
related on the evolutionary line. They will look at results from an electrophoresis gel and
analyze the results in a typed formal lab report.
How it works:
Day 1 - Introduce Forensics Science through an interactive PowerPoint. The PowerPoint
includes lecture notes, pictures, and short video clips to support lecture. Embedded in the
PowerPoint are white board checks for understanding questions. See attached
PowerPoint.
Day 2 - Students are taken to the computer lab and given the attached worksheet to go
along with the interactive gel electrophoresis simulation. They will visit the website and
go through a simulation that they can manipulate the process of gel electrophoresis. As
they go through each step they will answer imperative questions on their work sheet. The
worksheet will be turned in and graded.
Day 3/4 -Students are introduced to the mystery of looking at a gel and analyzing the
DNA banding patterns created after Gel electrophoresis and figuring out which fish is
mores closely related. They will create a table and graph of each of the DNA pieces
migration through the gel and will type a formal lab report. They are given two days in
class to analyze the results and two weeks (including 2 weekends) to type up the lab
report. The lab report follows the scientific method, which is also a CA State Standard.
See attached lab directions and data, formal lab write-up results and the grading rubric.
Day 5 - Students will return to the computer lab to take a Genetic Technology quiz on the
teacher’s SBCEO Portal Moodle page.
Assessment:
The students will be graded on correctness for the online simulation by turning in their
completed worksheet. The Genetic distance formal lab write up will be graded using a
rubric, which is attached. Finally they will take a quiz on my Moodle website.
Standards:
CA State Standards in Biology section 5
 5a. Students know the general structures and function of DNA.
 5c. Students know how genetic engineering (biotechnology) is used to produce
novel biomedical and agricultural products.

5d. Students know how basic DNA technology (gel electrophoresis) is used to
construct recombinant DNA molecules.
Estimated Number of Class Periods for Students To Complete Unit:
Five class periods
Software or Materials Used:
Computer with projector and PowerPoint: Computer Lab for a whole class with internet
connection; SBCEO Moodle; Either Gel electrophoresis lab equipment or "fake" printout
of gel (for cost effective lab)
Keywords:
Genetics, DNA Fingerprinting, Gel Electrophoresis, Evolution
The Students:
I did this project with my 9th grade Honors Biology class. I feel that you can make
adjustments for as low as 7th grade up to 12th grade. I try to implement formal college
level lab writing for their lab research paper. This is good practice in writing in science
and will help support the new core standards coming down the pipeline. Instead of a
formal write-up you could create a worksheet of questions and data tables/graph that they
students will do and turn in.
Overall Value:
This project gets the students out of the classroom and using technology. The genetic
distance portion combines language arts skills, math skills and learned science standards
in the formal lab write up. The students seem to enjoy the lab and figuring out the
mystery of which fish are mores closely related. They also use critical thinking skills and
the scientific method and apply these skills to a real life problem.
Tips for the Teacher:
Have fun!