Hey Johannes Hedman...
... graduate of SKL and LTH, who has improved a method of forensic analysis
I have identified three types of the enzyme used to copy DNA, which works better in the presence of other substances than the enzyme variant that is used as a standard in forensic technology today.
What is the purpose of your research?
Forensic technology is often based on samples that contain relatively little DNA and is also contaminated by other substances. It may for example be a sample from a cigarette butt containing both paper and substances from tobacco. To analyze the DNA in the sample, you copy it up with the enzyme DNA ploymerase. The problem is that DNA the polymeras is disrupted if there are other molecules than DNA in the sample. Researchers therefore seek to purify their samples as much as possible, which is an arduous process. Cleaning up the sample also means the loss of genetic material in the process. I wanted to find a more robust way of handling the sample.