Crime History: A man (Mr. Kellar) was found murdered in his backyard while working in his garden. During the time that the murder took place 10 different people were known to be in the area and have a motive to kill Mr. Kellar. Blood samples were taken from the crime scene and tested. The following tests were conducted on the blood evidence: Blood Typing, Gel Electrophoresis and Chromatography. As a result of the blood tests it was determined that the blood samples came from three different people. One of the blood samples matched the blood of the murdered man. The other two blood samples are assumed to be from two different perpetrators. Blood tests for the two unknown blood samples were given to the District Attorney's Office (Shown on paper in the front of the room). To avoid costly law suits the DA's office must eliminate all suspects who could not have committed the crime based on the results of the evidence tests.
Your group must provide evidence (in the form of 10 newsprint posters) to show "Beyond a Shadow of a Doubt" that each of the 10 suspects are either innocent or guilty. Each poster must include a reproduction of all blood test results used to either convict or aquit each suspect (See sample poster for general format.)
Getting Started
Group Job: (You are the District Attorney's Office)
The job of your group is to collect and present evidence to convict or acquit each of the 10 individuals who are considered suspects in this murder investigation. You are to do this at the lowest expense to the DA's office and still have an air-tight case for each of the 10 suspects. The Group must be ready to present evidence on the final day. You will have a TEST over the material covered in this project.
Getting Organized: Complete the following list to get started.
1. Select a group District Attorney (leader/organizer) to organize the group.
2. Put all suspect and victim evidence in your LOGS.
3. Read each Newspaper story to the group then decide on a theory that your group agrees to work on to solve the Investigation.
4. Select a group Member to be responsible for completing the POLICE REPORT sheet of real evidence.
5. Select a group Member to be responsible for the COST SUMMART sheet.
6. A newsprint of evidence must be produced for each of the 10 suspects. Assign each member of your Team their newsprint responsibilities. If you have 5 members in your group give each member 2 suspects for which to complete a newsprint.
7. Select 2 members with goggles to run the Chromatography Lab Tests when necessary.
8. Select 2 Members to run the DNA Fingerprint Simulations (Gel Electrophoresis) whaen necessary.
9. Anaylize the Blood Type Information. make punnent squares to eliminate suspects based on blood type. All members need to make punnett squares in their notebooks to determine the blood type possibilities for each suspect. You will need these for your test on the Project.
10. Compare your blood type Punnent Square results, for each of the 10 suspects, with the Blood Types found at the crime scene( Perpetrator Evidence ). Develop the most cost effective plan for aquitting or convicting each suspect. Discuss as a group the least expensive why to gather meaningful evidence in your process of eliminating suspects and still have an airtight case. Only the team with the lowest cost will get the EXTRA CREDIT points for their grade, however, their case must be airtight. You must produce a convincing newsprint, complete with reproductions of the hard evidence to aquit or convict each suspect. One newsprint per suspect. (10 total newsprints)
The most effective groups are those groups which develop a clear plan, divide and assign the work load evenly and get the work completed. Good Luck!!
Individual Job: (Homework)
Each individual will need to enter copies of the evidence into their research notebook to use on the quiz over the project. Each person is responsible for knowing when and how the following process are used: CHROMATOGRAPHY, GEL ELECTROPHORESIS, and BLOOD TYPING. You are also responsible for all terms used in the discussion of these processes.
Necessary Information
Suspects relationship to murdered man:
Parent Blood Type Information for each Suspect:
Explanation of Electrophoresis:
Gel Electrophoresis Simulator:
Perpetrator Evidence Test Results:
Police Report: (Handout)
Cost Summary Sheet: (Handout)
Determining Your Group Grade:
|
Grade Breakdown |
Points |
|
1. Cost Sheet completed neatly and accurately. |
10 |
|
2. Hard Evidence to convict or acquit all 10 suspects: Clear & Neat on 10 Newsprints |
10 |
|
3. Correctly Identify Perpetrator A: Photo and evidence on Police Report |
10 |
|
4. Correctly Identify Perpetrator B: Photo and evidence on Police Report |
10 |
|
5. Completed "Police Report" with photos, chromatography, electrophoresis & blood types |
20 |
|
6. Strong defense for all 8 Innocent Suspects clearly displayed on newsprint. |
10 |
|
7. No loopholes in case. |
10 |
|
8. You work ON-TASK as a member of the group each day. 5pts/day |
20 |
|
TOTAL |
100 points |