Curated OER
Recovering the Romanovs
Students use DNA to solve an identity mystery. In this biology lesson, students use the Internet to gather information about sex-linked disorders and complete a Punnett square for hemophilia, then examine a handwriting analysis, ear...
Curated OER
Lost Tribes of Israel
Students examine the issues involved with using DNA evidence in a courtroom trial. They read and discuss a case study of a particular trial, conduct research, and role-play a jury by reporting their verdict and discussing how they...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: How Dna Evidence Works
In this article by An Meeker-O'Connell, discover how DNA evidence is processed before it goes to court.
PBS
Nova Online: The Lost Tribes of Israel
This site provides an exploration of what may have happened to the "Lost tribes of Israel," including a modern scholar's study of a southern African tribe with possible ties to the lost tribes.
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: Forensic Science: Dna Analysis
How is DNA evidence analyzed? What makes DNA evidence unique? This comprehensive interactive tutorial explores how old or degraded samples can be analyzed for DNA as well as how DNA profiles are stored.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Dna Fingerprint Photos
These photographs supplied by Genelex Corporation depict actual DNA fingerprints and show the types of information that can be gleaned from them.
Columbia University
Columbia University: Dna as a Forensic University
Good article on the power and use of DNA evidence in court cases.
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Dna Interactive: Applications
Examples of using DNA for forensic purposes is discussed here, as well as uses to unravel historical puzzles, trace the history of a species and answer health problems.
National Health Museum
Access Excellence: Dna Fingerprinting in Human Health
This site, which is provided for by Access Excellence, gives a detailed article outlining DNA fingerprinting, how it is used, and how it works.
National Health Museum
Access Excellence: Use of Dna in Identification
At this site from Access Excellence, you can read a transcript from a lecture at the University of California, San Francisco by a biology professor discussing the use of DNA in criminal identification.
PBS
Pbs: The Dna Wars Are Over
Provides a 1996 news article about the allowed use of DNA by various courts. Good legal background, but light on the science of DNA.
PBS
Pbs: What Jennifer Saw
How can eyewitness identification go wrong? What role can DNA play in protecting the innocent? This interesting site answers these questions and gets the opinions of several DNA experts on this fascinating subject.
National Institutes of Health
National Library of Medicine: Key Accomplishments, Dna
A brief history of the major discoveries related to DNA from 1865 until 1991. Pictures of the responsible reponsibile for these key accomplishments are included as well.
PBS
Pbs: Interview With Bennett Gershman, Former Prosecutor
Why does the criminal justice system resist reopening cases based on new DNA evidence? This former prosecutor sheds light on the answer in this informative interview.
PBS
Pbs: Interview With Jim Liebman, Constitutional Law Professor at Columbia Univ.
Does innocence matter in our criminal justice system? Don't the DNA cases show that we are not getting the right outcome in more cases than we previously thought?