Leukocyte
Definition
White blood cell. The forensically critical component of blood because it contains a nucleus with a full complement of genomic DNA. Leukocytes are present in whole blood at concentrations of 4,000 to 11,000 per microlitre, providing ample DNA template even in small stains.
Related terms
- ABO blood group system
- Classification of red blood cells by the presence or absence of A and B antigens on the cell membrane, determined by alleles...
- Degradation
- The breakdown of DNA by enzymatic, chemical, or physical processes after biological material is deposited. Degradation produces fragmented DNA that may not...
- Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)
- DNA located in mitochondria rather than the cell nucleus. Present in hundreds to thousands of copies per cell, making it recoverable from...
- Presumptive test
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- Short tandem repeat (STR)
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Explained in
- Blood as Biological EvidenceWhite blood cell. The forensically critical component of blood because it contains a nucleus with a full complement of genomic DNA. Leukocytes are present in w...