CAREER TIPS

DNA AnalystWHEN I GROW UP

I Want to Be a . . .

So you want to be a forensic DNA analyst like Monica Ammann? Here are some things you can do before you wear your fi rst lab coat.

Have an interest in puzzles. From crosswords to jigsaws,

Ammann says that wanting to fi gure out a solution is key to

being a good analyst.

Talk to a DNA analyst.Some forensic scientists

will visit schools or other groups.

Study science.Ammann has a degree

in chemistry and a master’s degree in forensic sciences.

Classes in biology also are necessary.

Do a science project.Want to see an onion’s

DNA? Check out www.sciencebuddies.org

for more ideas.

Watch shows about the forensic sciences.

Instead of “CSI,” try Court TV or the Discovery Channel for more realistic

shows, Ammann says.

About the Job

9,800That’s the number of forensic science

technicians in the United States. Most work for state

and local governments.

20That’s the approximate number of colleges and universities that offer four-year programs in

forensics. Knowing about chemistry, biology, math and the law is important.

$21That’s about what forensic technicians made an hour

in 2004. The demand for forensic technicians is expected to grow very quickly between now and 2014, meaning there will be plenty of jobs and the

pay probably will increase.

SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2004

Special goggles protect Monica Ammann's eyes and help her to see body fl uids.

A lab coat and gloves protect

Ammann and prevent

contamination of evidence.

A pipet, in her right hand, is necessary

for many of the tests Ammann performs

since she is working with small amounts

of liquids.

The liquid Ammann is holding in the pipet will go into

a microcentrifuge tube (see Tools of a DNA Analyst, left).

Tools of a DNA Analyst

Alcohol swab

Scalpel

Pipet for collecting DNA

Solution tube

DNA analysts use a searchable database called Combined DNA Index System, or CODIS, to help solve crimes. CODIS contains DNA information about convicted criminals and is maintained by the FBI.

Contamination of evidence can lose a case, so tidiness at work is a must for successful DNA analysts.

A model of deoxyribonucleic acid, also known

as DNA.

Be an intern.Ammann says most police departments have programs for

college students who want to see what lab

life is like.

ISTOCKPHOTO

Microcentrifuge tubes, above and below

To most kids Clue is justa board game, but forMonica Ammann figur-ing out whodunit be-

came her career.“I loved the game Clue,” Am-

mann said. “My sister hated it,[because] I would always win.”

In addition to playing Clue,Ammann says she loved scienceand reading books about mur-der mysteries. In seventh gradeshe began researching how shecould combine her two passions.She ended up with forensics.

“I was just fascinated by ba-sically using science to figureout who committed the crime,and that is basically what foren-sics is: using science to reallypiece together what happened,”Ammann said.

Ammann, now 33, is a foren-sic DNA analyst for the PrinceGeorge’s County Police Department,which means she uses science to helppolice officers solve crimes.

DNA is like a tiny instruction manualinside the cells that tells how your bodyworks and looks. Since half your DNAcomes from your mom and half fromyour dad, you probably have featuresfrom both of them. Unless you have anidentical twin, your DNA is unlike any-one else’s.

“Much like a fingerprint, this is a waythat we can identify who’s been at acrime scene,” Ammann said. “If youhave left DNA, we know that you havebeen there because it is unique to you.”

At a crime scene, police officers gath-er evidence that has DNA on it. Justabout everything that comes out of aperson’s body, including blood, sweatand hair, carries DNA. Shirts, hats and

even cigarette butts are goodsources of DNA for an analyst.

When evidence comes intoher lab in Landover, Ammannfirst decides what might haveuseful DNA on it. She spends alot of time talking to police offi-cers about the evidence to de-cide what she will examine andthen conducts tests to deter-mine if there is any DNA on apiece of evidence.

Once she figures out whathas useful DNA, Ammann usesa process called extraction toget to the DNA out of the cells.Police officers have a big com-puter database that containsthe DNA information of crimi-nals, suspects and unidentifiedpeople from crime scenes. Am-mann puts the results of hertests into the database. Whenthe evidence matches the DNA

of a suspect, police officers often are ableto figure out who is guilty.

But Ammann doesn’t spend every dayin a lab. When DNA evidence is impor-tant to a case, she has to explain the re-sults in court.

“That is what’s so fun about this job;every day is something different,” Am-mann said. “One day I may be in solitudein my lab coat analyzing evidence, work-ing with different tubes but the next dayI may be testifying in court, and the dayafter that I may be talking to detectivesabout what I need.”

Whether she is in the lab or in court,Ammann said, “There is nothing likematching a profile found at a scene to asuspect’s profile. It is the best thing; it isso exciting!”

Like beating your sister at Clue.— Amy Orndorff

DAILY 11-07-06 MD RE C13 CMYK

C13CMYK

C13CMYK

TODAY: Cloudy;chance of rain.

HIGH LOW

60 49TOMORROW: Moreclouds. High 65. Low 54.

ILLUSTRATION BY NARALI SHAH, 9,SPRINGFIELD

WEATHER

TODAY’S NEWSThe Kids on the Bus Get Bounced Around . . .K Are you among the more than 23million kids who ride a school buseach year?

If you are, read on. But makesure you’re seated while you do.

A new study, published yester-day in the medical journal Pediat-rics, said there were a lot more in-juries on school buses than hadbeen reported in the past — total-ing about 17,000 each year.

Before you insist that Mom orDad drive you , you should know

that you’re far more likely to behurt in a car accident on your wayto school than in a bus accident.

The new report didn’t look atinjuries only from crashes, though.It also counted the bumps and

bruises suffered during suddenstops or while getting on or off.

Illinois bus driver ThomasBramley said that kids can be hurtif they’re not sitting down on thebus. “If we’re braking hard or go-ing around corners [kids] can bebounced around or slip,” he said.

The new study might renewcalls for seat belts on buses. Thecost of putting them on all schoolbuses could be as much as $150million a year, and it’s not clearhow much they would help, thefederal government has said.

Other changes , including hav-ing high, well-padded seat backsand new mats that prevent slip-ping, could help.

BY JOHN TLUMACKI — BOSTON GLOBE VIA ASSOCIATED PRESS

There are about 17,000 injuries on school buses each year.

WRITE KIDSPOST, THE WASHINGTON POST, 1150 15TH ST. NW, WASHINGTON, D.C. 20071. K E-MAIL US AT KIDSPOST@WASHPOST.COM K FAX US AT 202-496-3780. PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR NAME, AGE, ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER.

The Washington Post R Tuesday, November 7, 2006 C13

SPEAK OUT

Who Committed the Crime? All the Clues Indicate That Forensic Science Will Help Figure It Out.

Being scared, a little 4.3%

Candy 29.3%

Costumes 9.9%

Staying up late 4.8%

All of the above 51.7%

Last week’s surveyasked: What do youlike best aboutHalloween? Morethan 370 readersresponded:SU

RV

EY

SAY

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PHOTOS BY BILL WEBSTER — THE WASHINGTON POST

The Democrats have their donkey.

The Republicans have their elephant.

I’d vote for a political party whose mascot

is a robot dog. THIS WEEK’S TOPIC

Election DayYour parents, teachers and adult

friends might spend part of today vot-ing in an important midterm election.But no one under the age of 18 is al-lowed to vote. Do you agree with thatpolicy?

Here’s your chance to vote. Goto www.kidspost.com and castyour ballot:

K How old should you be to vote?A. Any ageB. 12 and olderC. 16 and olderD. 18 is rightE. 21 and older

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