Nuclear DNA
Definition
The approximately 3.2 billion base pairs of DNA contained in the nucleus of most human cells, organised across 23 pairs of chromosomes. The primary source of individual-specific genetic profiles in forensic typing because each person's combination of alleles at profiled loci is statistically unique.
Related terms
- Biological evidence
- Any material of biological origin recovered in a forensic context that can yield information relevant to an investigation. Includes blood, semen, saliva,...
- Chain of custody
- The documented chronological record of who collected, handled, transferred, and examined a piece of evidence. For digital evidence, chain of custody includes...
- 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...
- Touch DNA
- Minute quantities of epithelial cells transferred by skin contact with a surface, without leaving a visible stain. Collected by swabbing contact points...
Explained in
- The Scope of Biological Evidence in Forensic ScienceThe approximately 3.2 billion base pairs of DNA contained in the nucleus of most human cells, organised across 23 pairs of chromosomes. The primary source of i...