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Bureau of Criminal Apprehension

A Division of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety
 

Nuclear DNA

ElectropherogramDeoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) is also known as the molecule of life and contains the genetic instructions in the development of all living organisms. It is found in every cell in the human body, with the exception of red blood cells.

Everyone has a unique genetic blueprint except for identical twins. The BCA uses a technique known as Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) which allows us to utilize very small amounts of DNA by making copies of targeted regions on the molecule, also known as Short Tandem Repeats (STRs). From this, we obtain a “profile” from evidentiary items which we then can use to compare to known samples taken from the principals involved in a case.

 

DNA Testing Procedures