Summary
They run the samples through three machines. The first instrument, a "Real-time PCR," determines if there's enough DNA in the sample to test. The second, a thermocycler, replicates the DNA strands, and embeds fluorescent dyes that will enable the third machine -- the genetic analyzer -- to prepare a profile.
It's a lengthy process. "DNA analysis, unlike on 'CSI,' takes time," says [Eric Buel]. As he displays the machinery, Joseph Abraham, a forensic chemist, runs a sample through the genetic analyzer. Unlike the genetic analyzer on "CSI," Abraham's machine doesn't have lights that illuminate the samples.Buel says there are multiple checks built into the system. That's crucial, because the likelihood of a false match is slim. "We give statistics in the billions and trillions," he says. "Statistically, it's terrific evidence."See the full content of this document
Extract
Testing, Testing
Burlington police spent two weeks tracking Laura Winterbottom's murderer. They found him, ultimately, in a laboratory.
When authorities arrested an Old North End resident last week and accused him of ...See the full content of this document
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