Introduction

This website has been developed by the e-learning team of CWA New Media to support a video conference held between visiting Dr Robin Cotton and Dr Andy Hopwood and the following Kaupapa Ara Whakawhiti Matauranga (KAWM), CentreNet, CoroNet, OtagoNet and TaraNet schools, plus the Christchurch Learning Centre:

• Raglan Area School (Waikato)
• Otorohanga College (Waikato)
• Hato Petera College (Auckland)
• Turakina Maori Girls College (Marton)
• Northland College (Kaikohe)
• Waverley High School (Taranaki)
• Mt Aspiring College (Wanaka)
• Opunake School (Taranaki)
• East Otago High School (Otago)
• South Learning Centre (Christchurch)

Who are Dr Robin Cotton and Dr Andy Hopwood?
Dr Cotton is the Director of Technical Forensic Science at the Cellmark Laboratory in Germantown, Maryland, USA. The laboratory conducts DNA identification analysis of biological evidence and has participated in numerous high profile cases around the country. As Director, Dr Cotton is responsible for overseeing development and implementation of new techniques for use in the laboratory, as well as participating in casework and testifying in court. Laboratory test results are routinely used in criminal trial proceedings or may result in re-direction of investigations when exclusionary results are obtained.

Dr Hopwood has worked on the development of DNA-based techniques for application to forensic science, including mtDNA analysis from difficult samples, novel DNA quantification methodology and the development, validation and implementation of automated systems for the analysis of DNA samples for the UK criminal justice system.

Dr Cotton and Dr Hopwood came to New Zealand as part of the Masterclass! Science series. This is a partnership between the Royal Society of New Zealand, British Council New Zealand, Fulbright New Zealand, and Montana Wines. It brings complementary pairs of scientists from the UK and US to share expertise in a nationwide series of seminars, lectures and media interviews on a particular topic.

Did you know that...

DNA's real name is Deoxyribonucleic acid (dee-oxy-rye-bo-new-klee-ic-acid).

You only need 1ng of a blood sample to obtain an SGM+ profile. This is equivalent to 1 thousand millionths of a gramme.

Intelligence provided by DNA is playing an increasing role in the solution of serious crimes, giving more precise targeting of suspects. Two services currently available from the FSS are:

• Ethnic inference – the probability of a person's race can be calculated by using software designed to compare their DNA profile with a database of alleles (small sections of DNA) and their frequencies.
• Red hair test – a gene in the membrane of the skin acts as a molecular switch that influences hair pigmentation. The alleles on this gene required to produce red hair have so far been identified and can detect 84% of red heads.

In the future we hope to identify further genes which encode for physical characteristics and use this to build up a physical profile with suggestions of height, weight, facial structure, eye colour etc.

97% of the DNA in the human genome has no known function.

There is 6ft (1.8m) of DNA in each of our cells packed into a structure of only 0.0004in (0.0001cm). It would easily fit on the head of a pin. If all the DNA in the human body were put end to end it would reach to the sun and back over 600 times.

The four letters in the DNA alphabet – A (Adenine), C (Cytosine), G (Guanine), and T (Thymine) – are used to carry the instructions for making all organisms.

Writing down the entire sequence of genetic letters that make up the human genome would fill 800 copies of the Bible. The complete sequence, soon to be published, is the ultimate book of life. In effect it is the recipe for making a human being.

The genome is the complete list of coded instructions (DNA sequences) needed to make a person. If we recited the human genome at 1 letter per second it would take a century to recite the book of life.

One of the key service improvements from the Forensic Science Service is DNA automation. The third FSS automated line is currently processing nearly all Criminal Justice (CJ) samples, and is able to process 80 samples at any one time.