Use DNA Fingerprinting to Solve a Mystery #3: A Sour Flower

Spot the saboteur by testing DNA in this exciting worksheet! Young investigators will read about Noah, a forensic scientist who is tasked with solving a crime at a local gardening competition. Learners can follow along as he performs gel electrophoresis to analyze crime scene DNA with samples from other competitors. However, it is up to the students to compare the DNA and determine who destroyed the rose bushes!

Created for six, seventh, and eighth graders, this worksheet can be used alongside lessons about DNA and genetics. Students can discover more about DNA fingerprinting and how scientists use gel electrophoresis to analyze DNA samples. As learners compare lab results, they will also practice reading diagrams and evaluating data.

To learn more about the science of DNA fingerprinting, check out Gel Electrophoresis and DNA Fingerprinting. If students are ready to solve more mysteries, try Use DNA Fingerprinting to Solve a Mystery #1: Ice Cream Scene and Use DNA Fingerprinting to Solve a Mystery #2: Long-Lost Dog.