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Ch. 15 - Recombinant DNA Technology and Its Applications
Sanders - Genetic Analysis: An Integrated Approach 3rd Edition
Sanders3rd EditionGenetic Analysis: An Integrated ApproachISBN: 9780135564172Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 15, Problem E.3

What is the exclusion principle? How is it used in forensic genetic analysis and in paternity determination?

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Understand the exclusion principle: It is a concept used in genetics where an individual can be excluded as a biological parent if they do not share the necessary genetic markers with the child. This principle relies on the fact that a child inherits half of their genetic material from each parent.
Learn how the exclusion principle applies in forensic genetic analysis: In forensic cases, DNA profiles from crime scene evidence are compared to suspects. If a suspect's DNA does not match the evidence at key genetic loci, they can be excluded as the source of that DNA, helping to narrow down or eliminate suspects.
Explore the use of the exclusion principle in paternity determination: By comparing the child's genetic markers with those of the alleged father, if the alleged father lacks the genetic markers that must be inherited from him, he can be excluded as the biological father.
Recognize the role of genetic markers (such as STRs - Short Tandem Repeats) in this process: These markers are highly polymorphic and inherited in a Mendelian fashion, making them ideal for exclusion analysis.
Summarize that the exclusion principle is a powerful tool because it provides definitive evidence to rule out individuals who cannot be biological parents or contributors to a DNA sample, thus aiding in both forensic investigations and paternity testing.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Exclusion Principle

The exclusion principle in genetics states that if an individual lacks a specific genetic marker found in another, they can be excluded as a biological parent or contributor. It is a method to rule out possible relationships or sources based on incompatible genetic evidence.
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Forensic Genetic Analysis

Forensic genetic analysis uses DNA profiling to identify individuals or biological relationships in legal contexts. By comparing genetic markers, it helps exclude or include suspects or contributors to a crime scene, ensuring accurate identification.
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Paternity Determination

Paternity determination involves comparing the child's genetic markers with those of the alleged father. The exclusion principle is applied to rule out men who do not share necessary genetic markers, thereby confirming or excluding biological fatherhood.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

In an inheritance case, a man has died leaving his estate to be divided equally between 'his wife and his offspring.' His wife (M) has an adult daughter (D), and they argue that they should split the estate equally. As a young couple, however, the man and his wife had a son that they gave up for adoption. Two men have appeared, each claiming to be the son of the couple and therefore entitled to a one-third share of the estate. The accompanying illustration shows the results of DNA analysis for five genes for the mother (M), her daughter (D), and the two claimants (S1 and S2). Do the DNA results suggest that either man is likely to be the son of the man and his wife? Explain.

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Textbook Question

What is CODIS? Describe the four most important features of genetic markers used in this system.

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Textbook Question

Compare and contrast the terms Paternity Index (PI) and Combined Paternity Index (CPI). How does each contribute to paternity determination?

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Textbook Question

What is the statistical principle underlying genetic health risk assessment? Why are these assessments not predictive of disease occurrence?

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Textbook Question

Explain the meaning of 'identity by descent' in the context of identifying genealogical relationship between individuals. In these analyses, why are segments of chromosomes (haplotypes) rather than individual STRs used to identify genetic relationships?

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Textbook Question

Figure E.1 illustrates the results of an electrophoretic analysis of 13 CODIS STR markers on a DNA sample and identifies the alleles for each gene. Table E.2 lists the frequencies for alleles of three of the STRs shown in the figure. Use this information to calculate the frequency of the genotype for STR genes FGA, vWA, and D3S1358 given in Figure E.1.

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