Barnet students to use DNA fingerprinting to solve murder

4:16pm Thursday 6th March 2008

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Students from schools in Barnet and Potters Bar will use DNA fingerprinting to solve a murder on Thursday.

A group of GCSE and A-level students from four schools will visit the National Institute for Medical Research to learn the science behind DNA fingerprinting.

As part of National Science and Engineering Week, between March 7 and 16, scientists from the institute, in The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, will help the pupils to solve a murder mystery, and will be hosting discussions on the implications of such analysis.

The schools involved are Mill Hill School, in The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, Ashmole School, in Cecil Road, Southgate, Christ's College, in East End Road, Finchley, and Dame Alice Owen's School in Dugdale Hill Lane, Potters Bar.

DNA fingerprinting refers to the unique pattern of bands representing an individual's genetic identity and is used extensively in medical research.

Clare Davy, a scientist at the institute, said: "We hope this workshop will be a fun introduction to DNA, and that the students will enjoy the challenge of trying to solve our murder mystery."