DNA Fingerprinting / Cases

DNA FINGERPRINTING

1.In your opinion, what role (if any) did newspaper stories and editorials have in the outcome of the original trial of Dr. Sam Sheppard?

What they did was egg the trial on and they always had something to say.  When they believed he was free the paper would put something else in their to make him look guilty and that the people thought that also.

 2.What is the function of the restriction enzymes in DNA fingerprinting?

The enzymes work as scissors and, cutting the long DNA molecules at different locations.

3.What is the function of  the agarose gel electrophoresis step?

It acts as a molecular strainer, allowing smaller pieces of DNA to move through more easily than larger pieces.

4.Why is a nylon membrane used to blot the DNA?

The gel is difficult to work with, the DNA is transferred to a nylon membrane.  The DNA was sucked up into the membrane as a liquid traveled up from the gel toward an absorbent material that was placed over the membrane.

5.What does a dark spot on the X-ray film indicate?

Exposes corresponding areas on the X-ray film.

MS. HONEY SWEET WAS THE RIGHT MATCH!!!

 COTTON CASE / O. J SIMPSON

6.What evidence was initially used to convict Cotton?

A photo identification was made by one of the victims.

A police lineup identification was made by one of the victims.

A flashlight in Cotton's home resembled the one used by the assailant.

Rubber from Cotton's tennis shoe was consistent with rubber found at one of the crime scenes

7.What did the DNA evidence show?

That Cotton was not a match and they found a victim that was a match and confessed.

8.How could DNA fingerprinting be used to prevent a false conviction if a case like this was being tried today?

Because everybody has their own fingerprint so they can match that person to the fingerprint and find the actual criminal.

9.What percentage of convicts are unjustly convicted of sexual assault cases, according to Neufeld and Scheck?

25%

10. The O.J. Simpson trial was one of the most visible trials that attempted to use DNA evidence.  In the end, the DNA evidence was not satisfying to the jury, who acquitted Simpson.  What do Neufeld and Scheck believe about the impact of the O.J. Simpson trial on the use of DNA evidence?

They believe the impact was to be more cautious because in cases like this you have to use technology wisely and cautiously.

GATTACA

FACTS/QUESTIONS

Vincent left his family, tearing his picture out of the family photo, after winning the swimming race against his brother so there would be no evidence of him ever existing and he was now not apart of that family anymore.

The relationship between Vincent and Anton was I think Vincent was very jealous of Anton but Vincent did become stronger from Anton always being in the light because him being jealous motivated him to be better than Anton.  I think Anton was always thinking he was better than Vincent but once he found out how far Vincent made it he became jealous of Vincent.  They made each other stronger and I think a lot of their relationship was jealousy.

When Jerome Morrow said to Vincent/Jerome, “They’re not looking for you. When they look at you, they only see me,” he meant that he is not Vincent anymore all they see is Jerome and no one else.  Vincent no longer exists according to Jerome.  

My favorite character in the film was Jerome.  He was funny and I like what he did for Vincent.

I think the doctor went along with it the whole time because he realized how badly Vincent wanted to accomplish his dream.  If I were the doctor I think I would do the same thing because anybody that goes through all of that for their dream they must want it bad.

I think if I were Anton I would not have been as selfish as he was.  He acted very childish when he found out who Jerome really was.  He shouldn’t have wanted to turn Vincent in right away.

GATTACA resembled the type of society America was during the height of the eugenics movement because just like the Eugenics Era it was very demanding and judgmental.  If you were “unfit” you were not aloud to do as much as the other people who were said to be fit.

Overall the film was good I really got into it and I learned what our world can come to.  The way out technology is going right now I believe we can get to that point and in a way I hope we don't.  It's is good because you an find out a lot about your health and the person you may meet but it is too strict and harsh.  Grouping people by how they are and look is already bad imagine if our world came to that.