http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2008/0201-baking_out_dna.htm
Recently, Forensic scientists who were analyzing the DNA in the bones of mummified humans in the Gobi desert made a recent discovery. They found that it was relatively easy to extract DNA from the mummified remains. Many scientists were asking the question of why it was easier to extract DNA from bones hundreds of years then it was to from a new bone. The simple fact had to do with the fact that the bones buried in the Gobi Desert were baked for hundreds of years, making it easier to extract the DNA. As of late, Forensic scientists have frozen bones as part of standard procedure. Now however, some scientists such as Dr. Heather Coyle are firm believers in bone baking. "It makes the bone more brittle so it makes it easier to grind and break open more cells, so we think we are accessing more DNA to begin with." Dr. Coyle then tested this theory by baking a bone in liquid nitrogen for 72 hours and then putting them in a pulverizer. To no one's surprise the DNA extraction was much easier.
This new method could prove to shorten the identification process when identifying skeletons. By baking bones, forensic scientists have been able to successfully extract DNA from a bone within 72 hours of receiving it. This in turn could lead to more suspects being caught.
3 comments:
I found Nick did an excellent job explaining the article, without making it too complicated. I never had the feeling of not understanding what the topic was or where he was going with an idea. I also like how he makes a connection to how baking bones can increase the process of extracting DNA in bones. Lastly, Nick found a very intriguing article that brought new ideas to help advance forensic science.
One thing that caught my attention was, the blog was a review of the article, not necessarily a critique. However, the article was presented very thoroughly so a critique would have been difficult. I would also like to see three distinct paragraphs following the guidelines on Edline; it would have completed the blog.
The article caught my attention not only because it was a very original topic, but because there was also a video, including an interview with Dr. Coyle. This addition made the article even more interesting and caught my attention, even more, once I opened the link.
1. They used lots of details from the article.
2. He used specific names of people to make the article more relatable.
3. It is written well.
1. He could have made it a little longer.
2. Or explain how it will help society.
1. I learned that you could bake bones to identify skeletons.
I think that Nick choose a great article, i found the topic to be very interesting. How bones are able to give better samples of DNA when they are backed and not frozen. I liked how it tied History and Science together. Nick did a great job summarizing some key points of the article and did not repeat himself.
the only thing that I would say that could be better would be to make it longer. I think that there was some more info that could have been put in. Also more of a critique would have been better.
As i said before the topic of bones being heated to get DNA was very interesting for me. Also there was a video which i think add a whole other element to the article.
Post a Comment