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Article: Genetic Code
- Article from:
- World of Forensic Science
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2005 Thomson Gale. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Genetic Code
Some forensic
identification
techniques that detect living organisms or their products (e.g.,
toxins
) rely on the detection of genetic sequences within the organism's genetic material. These tests can be exquisitely sensitive, allowing the detection of only a few organisms.
For example, tests have established that less than a dozen
Escherichia coli
bacteria can be detected in samples such as food and water. To put that in perspective, over a million bacterial cells will fit into the period at the end of this sentence.
A fundamental understanding of the genetic code is essential to understanding the molecular basis of advanced deoxyribonucleic acid (
DNA
) and the ...