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Principles of Forensic DNA for Officers of the Court

DNA Sequences

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illustration of DNA sequencing
National Institute of Justice (NIJ) (see reuse policy).

DNA sequences are visualized in an electropherogram. Colored peaks are labeled "A," "C," "G," "T," and occasionally "N" (when the sequence detection instrument cannot designate a specific nucleotide). In a typical mtDNA analysis, about 700 nucleotides are analyzed for each sample. The electropherogram can be seen on a computer screen or printed out on paper.

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