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Principles of Forensic DNA for Officers of the Court

Laboratory Structure (cont.)

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Not all laboratories are capable of the same DNA testing either. Most DNA labs have the capability to conduct testing on nuclear DNA, which is the single copy of DNA that exists in every cell nucleus. A select few specialize in Y-STR testing, which is DNA conducted on the Y-chromosome, which is found only in males.

Others specialize in testing mitochondrial DNA (or mtDNA), which is found in every cell of the body regardless of the presence of a nucleus.

These specialized DNA tests (Y-STRs and mtDNA) will be discussed in more detail in Module 8.

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