Question

10

A victim's remains are found near a house. The family believes it is their cousin Tallulah but the body has been burned so badly that she cannot be
identified. What is the BEST option for a forensic scientist to identify the body using DNA evidence?
A. Ask for one of Tallulah's old hairbrushes.
Obtain a buccal swab from Tallulah's body.
Test the family members' saliva and sweat.
Look for gunpowder residue around the body.
B.
C.
D.

Answer 1

The best method to identify a severely burned body is to compare DNA from a protected sample of the victim, like bone marrow, with DNA from relatives or the victim's personal items.

The best option for a forensic scientist to identify a severely burned body using DNA evidence is to obtain a DNA sample from the body that is most likely to contain viable DNA, such as a bone marrow or a tooth, especially considering that soft tissues might be heavily damaged by the fire. This sample can then be compared to DNA from living relatives, or from personal items that might retain the victim’s DNA (like hair from a hairbrush). In particular, a buccal swab would not be appropriate as the tissue is likely too damaged to yield useful DNA.

Moreover, forensic scientists can use DNA analysis to establish identity by comparing the DNA profile of the remains to those of known relatives or personal items of the deceased. The DNA sequencing allows for a match that can establish the identity beyond reasonable doubt. This technique is invaluable in cases where traditional means of identification like fingerprints or facial recognition are not possible.

The identification of severely burned remains through DNA often necessitates the retrieval of protected DNA samples from the remains and the comparison with known profiles of relatives or items that contain the victim’s DNA.

Answer 2

Answer:The BEST option for a forensic scientist to identify the body using DNA evidence would be to obtain a buccal swab from Tallulah's body (Option B). A buccal swab collects cells from inside the cheek, which contain DNA, and can be used to compare the DNA profile of the victim to the DNA profile of a known relative, such as Tallulah's family members, to establish a possible match. This is a common and reliable method for obtaining DNA evidence for comparison purposes.

Other options, such as asking for one of Tallulah's old hairbrushes (Option A), testing the family members' saliva and sweat (Option C), and looking for gunpowder residue around the body (Option D), may provide additional information, but are not the BEST option for identifying the victim using DNA evidence.

Step-by-step explanation:

The BEST option for a forensic scientist to identify the body using DNA evidence would be to obtain a buccal swab from Tallulah's body (Option B). A buccal swab collects cells from inside the cheek, which contain DNA, and can be used to compare the DNA profile of the victim to the DNA profile of a known relative, such as Tallulah's family members, to establish a possible match. This is a common and reliable method for obtaining DNA evidence for comparison purposes.

Other options, such as asking for one of Tallulah's old hairbrushes (Option A), testing the family members' saliva and sweat (Option C), and looking for gunpowder residue around the body (Option D), may provide additional information, but are not the BEST option for identifying the victim using DNA evidence.