Question

how is mitochondrial dna (mtdna) typing used in forensic science?
a suspect’s mtdna sample is matched to an unknown sample of nuclear dna that was found at a crime scene.
a suspect’s mtdna sample is matched to an unknown sample of mtdna that was found at a crime scene.
a suspect’s nuclear dna sample is matched to an unknown sample of nuclear dna that was found at a crime scene.
a suspect’s nuclear dna sample is matched to an unknown sample of mtdna that was found at a crime scene.

Explanation:

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) typing in forensics involves matching mtDNA samples. So we compare a suspect’s mtDNA to an unknown mtDNA sample from the crime scene. Option A matches mtDNA to nuclear DNA (incorrect), Option C matches nuclear to nuclear (not mtDNA typing), Option D matches nuclear to mtDNA (incorrect). Only Option B correctly matches suspect’s mtDNA to unknown mtDNA from crime scene.

Answer:

B. A suspect’s mtDNA sample is matched to an unknown sample of mtDNA that was found at a crime scene.