Genetic fingerprinting

Genetic fingerprinting is a scientific technique used in forensic science to identify individuals based on their unique DNA profiles. This method is also known as DNA fingerprinting, DNA typing, or DNA profiling.

History

The concept of genetic fingerprinting was first introduced by Alec Jeffreys in 1984. Jeffreys discovered that certain regions of DNA vary greatly between individuals, which can be used to distinguish one individual from another.

Process

The process of genetic fingerprinting involves extracting DNA from a sample, such as blood or hair, and then analyzing it to identify the unique patterns that distinguish one individual's DNA from another's. This is done using a variety of techniques, including Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP), and Short Tandem Repeats (STR) analysis.

Applications

Genetic fingerprinting has a wide range of applications, including:

• Forensic science: It is used to identify suspects in criminal investigations and to establish paternity in legal disputes.
• Medical research: It is used to study genetic diseases and to develop personalized treatments based on an individual's genetic profile.
• Conservation biology: It is used to study genetic diversity in wildlife populations and to identify endangered species.

Limitations

While genetic fingerprinting is a powerful tool, it also has limitations. For example, it cannot determine age, sex, or physical appearance from a DNA sample. It also requires a high-quality DNA sample, which can be difficult to obtain in some cases.

See also

• DNA sequencing
• Genomics
• Human Genome Project

References

Genetic fingerprinting Resources
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