THE CASE OF THE FALSE CONFESSIONTHE CASE OF THE FALSE CONFESSION

Who did it? Can you tell?

Marco Giuliano

Sixteen years ago, Marco Giuliano was convicted of killing his widowed mother. Although he confessed to the crime, he now requests that DNA tests, not available 16 years ago, be conducted to prove his innocence.

Mr. Guiliano now claims that he lied to protect his sister. He is coming forward now because his sister has broken off contact with him after telling him that she will give him no part of the sizable family estate. And because of his conviction, she is legally entitled to do so.

Silvia Giuliano

Silvia Giuliano says that her brother is insane. He killed his mother for her money and confessed in a moment of regret. He is now desperate to get out of prison, and is grasping at straws.

Ms. Guiliano says that her brother has gotten what he deserved and hates her because she is not afraid to tell him that very same thing.

YOUR MISSIONYOUR MISSIONYou have been given 4 DNA samples to analyze, one each from Mr. Giuliano, Ms. Giuliano, blood from the handle of the knife, and the victim.

Laboratory 4 – DNA Fingerprinting

Purpose: To determine guilt or innocence.

Materials:DNA Sample 1 (Suspect 1 – Marco Guiliano)DNA Sample 2 (Suspect 2 – Silvia Guiliano)DNA Sample 3 (Blood from knife handle)DNA Sample 4 (Victim)Volumetric PipetteAgarose gel (pre-cast)Electrophoresis chamberPower SupplyCarolina BLU dye

Laboratory 4 – DNA Fingerprinting

Procedure:1. Tap tubes sharply on lab bench to make sure the DNA is at the bottom of the tube.2.Place 20 uL of each of your 4 DNA samples in separate wells of the electrophoretic gel.3.Place the gel in the chamber and fill with buffer solution until the gel is just covered with buffer. 4.Attach the top of the chamber and attach the electrodes to the power supply. Turn the power supply on to low power.5.Wait approximately 30 minutes until the DNA fragments have almost reached the end of the gel.6.Turn off the power.

Laboratory 4 – DNA Fingerprinting

Procedure (cont.):ON MONDAY7.Place the gel in a shallow dish and add stain to the dish until the gel is covered.8.Wait for 1 minute and drain the stain back into the bottle for re-use.9.Compare the patterns of DNA to each other and determine which, if any, suspects are guilty.