Reflection
This project was very different from the projects we have done in the past but I enjoyed it. Forensic science is very interesting and elaborate and my group (Rebecca Oblites, Aditya Katewa, and) handled this project very well. Like in all projects there were ups and downs. To start, my group was really good about time management. The timing of all the work was well thought out and evenly divided. This lead us to finishing our presentation on time and making sure everything we needed was on it. Another thing we did well was piecing together all the evidence and making a strong argument. We analyzed all the data, narrowed down our suspects (and uncovering their secrets), and came to a conclusion that we could support. All our hard work paid off when we were granted a search warrant. One of the more difficult aspects to this project was doing some of the tests needed to find evidence. They were often hard, confusing, and only one or two people could work on it at the same time. Another thing that could be improved was creativity. Since every group was dealing with the same suspects, evidence, etc. it was very hard to make our presentation stand out and not be repetitive. Overall, this project was very successful and interesting especially since all the crime shows on TV use similar methods to solve other crimes.
This project was very different from the projects we have done in the past but I enjoyed it. Forensic science is very interesting and elaborate and my group (Rebecca Oblites, Aditya Katewa, and) handled this project very well. Like in all projects there were ups and downs. To start, my group was really good about time management. The timing of all the work was well thought out and evenly divided. This lead us to finishing our presentation on time and making sure everything we needed was on it. Another thing we did well was piecing together all the evidence and making a strong argument. We analyzed all the data, narrowed down our suspects (and uncovering their secrets), and came to a conclusion that we could support. All our hard work paid off when we were granted a search warrant. One of the more difficult aspects to this project was doing some of the tests needed to find evidence. They were often hard, confusing, and only one or two people could work on it at the same time. Another thing that could be improved was creativity. Since every group was dealing with the same suspects, evidence, etc. it was very hard to make our presentation stand out and not be repetitive. Overall, this project was very successful and interesting especially since all the crime shows on TV use similar methods to solve other crimes.
Our Project
The 5th project in STEM this year was solving a murder mystery. On October 26, 2016 our victim Carleton Comet invited 5 old friends, Glen Glee, Fred Flimmer, Nancy Normal, Theresa Terra, and Sam Sophomore, on a picnic on Chalk Hill at the edge of San Marin's campus. Everyone was enjoying the dinner which consisted of soup, salad, and prime rib. All of a sudden, the sky darkened, a glass was dropped, someone screamed, and Carleton Comet groaned loudly. When the sun came back, Comet was slumped forward with his face in his bowl and a large steak knife in the back of his neck.
The goal of this project was to examine the evidence that was recovered on the scene of the crime and figure out who killed Carleton Comet. To do this we conducted ink chromatography, karyotyping, DNA fingerprinting, blood typing, and analyzed the suspects family pedigrees. After thoroughly analyzing the results, we concluded that all the data points towards Nancy Normal. Before this, we figured out that Comet had changed his name after he got out of jail. Thomas Sandstone aka Carleton Comet had some relation to all the guests at his party but they were unaware of this fact. We believe that Nancy found out who Comet really was during the picnic and quickly devised a plan to kill him. She adored Fred Flimmer and would do anything for him and since Fred and Carleton have a shaky past, this would have been the perfect time to show her love for Fred.
My group wants to charge Nancy Normal with first degree murder.
The 5th project in STEM this year was solving a murder mystery. On October 26, 2016 our victim Carleton Comet invited 5 old friends, Glen Glee, Fred Flimmer, Nancy Normal, Theresa Terra, and Sam Sophomore, on a picnic on Chalk Hill at the edge of San Marin's campus. Everyone was enjoying the dinner which consisted of soup, salad, and prime rib. All of a sudden, the sky darkened, a glass was dropped, someone screamed, and Carleton Comet groaned loudly. When the sun came back, Comet was slumped forward with his face in his bowl and a large steak knife in the back of his neck.
The goal of this project was to examine the evidence that was recovered on the scene of the crime and figure out who killed Carleton Comet. To do this we conducted ink chromatography, karyotyping, DNA fingerprinting, blood typing, and analyzed the suspects family pedigrees. After thoroughly analyzing the results, we concluded that all the data points towards Nancy Normal. Before this, we figured out that Comet had changed his name after he got out of jail. Thomas Sandstone aka Carleton Comet had some relation to all the guests at his party but they were unaware of this fact. We believe that Nancy found out who Comet really was during the picnic and quickly devised a plan to kill him. She adored Fred Flimmer and would do anything for him and since Fred and Carleton have a shaky past, this would have been the perfect time to show her love for Fred.
My group wants to charge Nancy Normal with first degree murder.
Content
These are some of the terms that were used throughout the project. The first 5 relate to the tests we performed to determine what the evidence shows. The others relate to the charges we want to press on the suspect as well as possible things that could have triggered this suspects behavior.
DNA Fingerprinting- A process where a DNA sample is inserted into a well in an agrose gel and is examined through gel electrophoresis. After the DNA is run at a high voltage, the bands separate and can be compared to other bands of DNA
Ink Chromatography- A process to determine which writing material was used. A dot of ink is placed at the bottom of an ink chromatography strip and is placed in some alcohol (rubbing or isoproble). After sometime, the alcohol carries the ink through the paper and makes a long multicolored streak. This is then measured and compared to other samples
Karyotyping- A karyotype is a picture of all the chromosomes within a cell. A healthy person should have 23 pairs or 46 chromosomes total. Karyotypes are examined for chromosomal diseases such as XXX syndrome, down syndrome, etc.
Blood Typing- Each individual will either have A, B, AB, or O type blood. To do blood typing, a small sample is placed in a dish and is mixed with anti-A and anti-B antigens (separately) to determine the blood type. If a sample of anti-A is put into a dish with A type blood it will clump. The same goes for the rest except for O type blood which will show no clumping for both antigens
Pedigree- A chart of an entire family (similar to a family tree) but including genetic diseases and other traits that could be inherited. Doctors use this to help families understand the risks and treatments for hereditary diseases within that family
1st Degree Murder- Any unlawful killing that is both willful and premeditated (planned)
Marfan Syndrome- A rare genetic disease; symptoms include: low IQ, flat feet, unusually tall and slender, emotional unsteadiness, etc.
Huntington's Disease- A genetic disease; symptoms include: behavioral issues include compulsive behavior, irritability, or lack of restraint. Psychological effects include delirium, depression, or paranoia. Mood-related effects include anxiety, apathy, or mood swings.
XXX Syndrome- A chromosomal disease that results only in females due to an extra X chromosome. Symptoms include developmental delays, learning disabilities, wide set eyes, and many behavioral and emotional problems
These are some of the terms that were used throughout the project. The first 5 relate to the tests we performed to determine what the evidence shows. The others relate to the charges we want to press on the suspect as well as possible things that could have triggered this suspects behavior.
DNA Fingerprinting- A process where a DNA sample is inserted into a well in an agrose gel and is examined through gel electrophoresis. After the DNA is run at a high voltage, the bands separate and can be compared to other bands of DNA
Ink Chromatography- A process to determine which writing material was used. A dot of ink is placed at the bottom of an ink chromatography strip and is placed in some alcohol (rubbing or isoproble). After sometime, the alcohol carries the ink through the paper and makes a long multicolored streak. This is then measured and compared to other samples
Karyotyping- A karyotype is a picture of all the chromosomes within a cell. A healthy person should have 23 pairs or 46 chromosomes total. Karyotypes are examined for chromosomal diseases such as XXX syndrome, down syndrome, etc.
Blood Typing- Each individual will either have A, B, AB, or O type blood. To do blood typing, a small sample is placed in a dish and is mixed with anti-A and anti-B antigens (separately) to determine the blood type. If a sample of anti-A is put into a dish with A type blood it will clump. The same goes for the rest except for O type blood which will show no clumping for both antigens
Pedigree- A chart of an entire family (similar to a family tree) but including genetic diseases and other traits that could be inherited. Doctors use this to help families understand the risks and treatments for hereditary diseases within that family
1st Degree Murder- Any unlawful killing that is both willful and premeditated (planned)
Marfan Syndrome- A rare genetic disease; symptoms include: low IQ, flat feet, unusually tall and slender, emotional unsteadiness, etc.
Huntington's Disease- A genetic disease; symptoms include: behavioral issues include compulsive behavior, irritability, or lack of restraint. Psychological effects include delirium, depression, or paranoia. Mood-related effects include anxiety, apathy, or mood swings.
XXX Syndrome- A chromosomal disease that results only in females due to an extra X chromosome. Symptoms include developmental delays, learning disabilities, wide set eyes, and many behavioral and emotional problems
The specific evidence and analysis of this project can be found in the PowerPoint presentation below: