PCR+9-10



= Who I Am = I’m Brian Farrel and I created Farrel Forensics. I always loved criminal justice and excelled in my high school science courses, so I decided to combine my strengths when I attended Kaplan University, studying Applied Science in Criminal Justice. I graduated with an Associate Degree of Applied Science in Criminal Justice in 2003. I immediately began investing in creating my own company dealing with crime scene investigation. I collaborated with a few other students in my graduating class to create the basis of Farrel Forensics, a laboratory using PCR technology to analyze samples from crime scenes. After a year and a half of hard work Farrel Forensics was up and running. In the beginning in 2004 we only had one small location with 27 employees. We all worked around the clock to gain a respected reputation, and now in 2010 we have one large office where ten teams of investigators are based who travel throughout the country, as well as three fully staffed labs. With over 150 employees, Farrel Forensics is now a widely respected crime scene analysis corporation. media type="youtube" key="x5yPkxCLads?fs=1" height="385" width="640"(feel free to view our commercial) Below : Brian Farrel running a test.



= ** About The Company ** = Farrel Forensics utilizes Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Thermocycling to solve cold cases, identify cause of death, and help provide hard evidence proving who committed current crimes. For example, one of our cases from last year involved several victims dying randomly. Our job was to figure out the cause of death in these young people. Once we discovered a rare form of poison in all of their DNA's, we were able to link it back through a source for one of the substances in it, and locate the murderer. We have several teams of agents that travel across the country and examine crime scenes and collect samples, as well as our 3 fully staffed labs of scientists who conduct autopsies, study DNA, utilize the PCR machines, and research connections (like where the chemical in the poison came from).

** But what exactly is PCR? ** PCR is a process used to create many samples of a single DNA strand. At Farrel forensics we use this to compare DNA at crime scenes to witnesses as well as conduct crime scene autopsies in an attempt to determine cause of death (by testing for diseases, poisons, and other things). The process is very simple.


 * == ** The Process of PCR can be broken down into 3 simple steps. ** ==

** 1. Denaturing: Separating the DNA Strands **
==== The first step of PCR is denaturing the DNA sample. The DNA is heated (to approx. 95 degrees Celsius) which causes the DNA to unwind from its normal shape and the two strands (known as backbone strands) to separate into two. ====

** 2. Annealing: Attaching the PCR Primers **
==== After the DNA is denatured, the strands are cooled (to approx. 60 degrees Celsius) and molecules called primers bind (or attach) to the two single DNA strands. Next the primers prepare the strands to reform into complete DNA molecules. ====

** 3. Elongation: Rebuilding the DNA Strands **
==== Once the strands attach to the primers, the sample is reheated (to approx. 72 degrees Celsius) and the DNA polymerase is activated. The polymerase recruits free DNA bases in the sample solution, matches them to the single DNA strand, and extends the primer. This process, called elongation, results in a double-stranded copy of the original DNA sample. ====

Why use PCR?
==== The majority of labs now use PCR, because it allows them to make many copies of the samples, reducing the amount of time necessary for analysis. This is different from other methods, such as RFLP, where much larger samples are required. With PCR, labs can copy a small, single sample endlessly. ==== ||

=** History of PCR **=

In the beginning of 1983 the American Scientist Kary Bank Mullis developed the process of Polymerase Chain reaction. His idea was to multiply DNA without using a living substance instead he used the enzyme Polymerase. Polymerase is in every living thing and is doubled before every cell division in the PCR machine. After seven years Kary Mullis won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. The process based on that double stranded DNA will be divided with heat in two separate strands. For this process they used the DNA-Polymerase and had to put it in every time, repeating the process manually. This technique of Mullis’ was slow and labor-intensive as a result. Cetus, another scientist, began to look for ways to automate this process. He developed the first thermocyling machine that allowed the scientists to change the heating and cooling process, and make it faster by adding in a fresh enzyme. ====

==== =**Current Uses**=

Drug discovery can use PCR by taking samples of dna that does not contain a drug, and compare it to one that does.
==== PCR is very helpful in identifying many things with various species, like mating systems, hybrid zones, sex identification and more. It is particularly useful in this field because it is non-invasive and accurate. ====

In The Future:
In the future, we hope to further advance the PCR field, as well as solve more cold cases and improve the odds of a case being ruled correctly. We want to serve justice, and reduce the amount of people falsely prosecuted. We hope to have 3 locations in the continental U.S. to better serve the country by 2013, with more than 20 teams of agents to investigate crime scenes in person. We also would like to make the PCR machine a smaller, and maybe even battery operated system so that you can get a quick, reliable result on the scene.

[] (12/21)
Or check out this video!

media type="youtube" key="_YgXcJ4n-kQ?fs=1" height="385" width="480"

"PCR Workstation." //NZ Leading Supplier of Laboratory Consumables and Equipment//. Web. 23 Dec. 2010. .

// Youtube // . . 20 Dec. 2010 .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5yPkxCLads

Copyright 2010: Richard Gordon, Kendyl Lamphere, Mario Isopo, Farah Fierdle, Skylar Gordon