Because Proteins Are a Major Structural And Metabolic Component of All Living Organisms, The Analysis of Protein Samples Can be Useful in Forensic Chemistry

Forensic Chemistry > Because Proteins Are a Major Structural And Metabolic Component of All Living Organisms, The Analysis of Protein Samples Can be Useful in Forensic Chemistry

Because proteins are a major structural and metabolic component of all living organisms, the analysis of protein samples can be useful in forensic chemistry

Students learn to:

• distinguish between protein used for structural purposes and the uses of proteins as enzymes
• identify the major functional groups in an amino acid
• describe the composition and general formula for amino acids and explain that proteins are chains of amino acids
• describe the nature of the peptide bond and explain that proteins can be broken at different lengths in the chain by choice of enzyme
• compare the processes of chromatography and electrophoresis and identify the properties of mixtures that allow them to be separated by either of these processes
• discuss the role of electrophoresis in identifying the origins of protein and explain how this could assist the forensic chemist

Students:

• perform first-hand investigations using molecular model kits, computer simulations or other multimedia resources to present information which describes the composition and generalised structure of proteins
• perform a first-hand investigation and gather first-hand information about a distinguishing test for proteins
• perform a first-hand investigation to carry out chromatography to separate a mixture of organic materials such as the pigments in plants
• perform a first-hand investigation and gather first-hand information to identify the range of solvents that may be used for chromatography and suggest mixtures that may be separated and identified by the use of these solvents
• perform a first-hand investigation to carry out the electrophoresis of an appropriate mixture and use available evidence to identify the characteristics of the mixture which allow it to be separated by this process

Extract from Chemistry Stage 6 Syllabus (Amended October 2002). © 2009, Board of Studies NSW.