Tissue Typing

A patient has had a series of tests run on him, one of which came back positive for cancer (Sample 2). This appears inconsistent with other symptoms, so you would like to know if the samples were mixed in the laboratory. It is not possible to take another sample from the patient, so we will type-test the existing samples.

Consider four VNTR loci. Each of the four loci are on different chromosomes, and so can be considered independent. The Southern Blots for the loci are done on the same samples, with the results given below. Two samples were taken from the patient, and these are analyzed, along with a recent blood sample from the patient.



Consider each locus separately. Of course, in real life, a single exclusion is enough to strongly suspect a laboratory mixup. Consider each one on your own before you look at the answers.

Analysis of D2S193 Locus
Analysis of D7S182 Locus
Analysis of D15S38 Locus
Analysis of D20S88 Locus


Tissue Typing Conclusions

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