Question

Make up a case where molecular biology can be used to prosecute a suspect accused of growing and selling marijuana. How would molecular biology be used? What evidence or results would be needed to convict the suspect?

Answer 1

Many forensic cases involve plant evidence that may be useful to link a suspect. Plants as forensic evidence are useful for providing linkages between locations, suspects and events. Cannabis is an excellent model plant system to establish the best foresic science methodology for standardizing classification by DNA. Marijuana is frequently associated with violent crime and provides potential useful evidence in many homicides. Chemical analysis performed in the laboratory on submitted evidence detects and identifies psychoactive delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) to catagorize different forms of cannabis. All cannabis does not have detectable level of THC. Roots, seeds, and small leaf fragments may need molecular biology methods to identify that they are Cannabis sativa samples. DNA methods are used to detect THC, cannabinol and THCA (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid synthase genes) in the leaf samples as a molecular biology method for the identification of the drug marijuana. The molecular characterization and genetic inheritance of THCA gene is correlated  with the amount of THC produced by the plant. The amount of THC is used to distinguish between legal versus non-legal forms of the plant. This helps law enforcement prosecute offenders.