Mariella Lawson and David Schreiner prepare the DNA samples found at the mock crime scene by injecting the samples into wells and running them on a Gel Electrophoresis.

Matt St. George and Joel Miller perform a Chromatography on ink samples found on a letter in the victim's pocket at the "crime" scene.

Brockport students learn crime scene investigation techniques

It was CSI: Brockport when high school students in Kris Cyr's Living Environment class concluded the school year by solving a crime. As part of a genetics unit, students compared hair samples under microscopes, typed blood, analyzed fingerprints and footprints, and interrogated suspects to find out who could have committed a (staged) murder. A small room was closed off with crime scene tape and a few clues like footprints and fingerprints were set around a body (a mannequin). Students even used mealworms at various stages of metamorphosis so they could learn how the mealworms help solve crimes.

Earlier in the year, students went to the University of Rochester and learned how to perform a Gel Electrophoresis/DNA Fingerprinting Lab. Officer Mark Cyr from the Brockport Police Department visited the classroom to fingerprint the victim and the suspects. He showed the students how to collect fingerprints and how to look for the loops and whorls to identify them.