Home
Overview
Laboratory Time and Resources
Interacting With Crime Laboratories
DNA Evidence: Probative Value and Prioritization
Communicating With the Prosecutor
Outsourcing Considerations
Leveraging Limited Resources
Avoiding Steep Costs
Communicating With the Legislature
Evidence Retention Policies
Best Practices for Handling “Cold Hits”
Offender Collection Statutes
Partial Matches
Familial Searching
Rapid DNA Technology
Resources, Guides and Best Practices

Laboratory Time and Resources

Time Required to Perform Laboratory Analysis

Step 3: DNA Analysis

diagram of human cell. outside structure contains nucelus and mitochondria. nucleus contains both nuclear DNA and Y chromosome DNA. Mitochondira contains mtDNA.

In this step, three types of forensic DNA analyses are typically conducted:

Nuclear
Y chromosome
Mitochondrial

This explanation will focus on nuclear DNA analysis as the standard DNA test. Nuclear short tandem repeat (STR) is the most common method used in the United States. DNA analysis can be divided into four distinct parts: extraction, amplification, detection and interpretation. The following discussion will examine each part and the role it plays in the overall analysis of DNA evidence.

Click here to view an animation about Mitochondrial DNA inheritance »

Click here to view an animation about Y Chromosome DNA inheritance »

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