Goal 3 - DNA Fingerprinting Notes
DNA Fingerprinting (page 346 and 353)
Used for:
DNA fingerprints are unique to each person!!! Unless you have an identical twin, NO ONE else on the Earth has the same DNA fingerprint as you!!!
Steps:
Used for:
- Identification of individuals
- Identification of parentage
- Crime scene application
DNA fingerprints are unique to each person!!! Unless you have an identical twin, NO ONE else on the Earth has the same DNA fingerprint as you!!!
Steps:
- Small samples of DNA can be obtained from blood, hair, skin or semen
- Make millions of copies of the DNA using PCR (polymerase chain reaction) – works like DNA replication but outside of cells.
- Cut DNA with restriction enzymes
- Separate DNA fragments using gel electrophoresis (see page 346 book).
- The DNA fragments are carefully injected into wells a gel. The gel is placed in a solution and an electric field is applied making one end of the gel positive and the other end negative. The negatively charged DAN fragments move toward the positive end. The smaller the fragment, the faster it will move through the gel. The smallest fragments move the farthest from the well.
- Compare – do the DNA fragments match?