2. Uses small pieces of DNA to identify:
Criminals
Parental Identity
Bodies
Most commonly used for court cases where
DNA is used as evidence
3. DNA is unique to its person-much like
fingerprints
Chances that you will find two people with the
same DNA who are not identical twins is
VERY low
DNA is extremely reliable in identifying who a
person is, much like a fingerprint can identify
who someone is
DNA is 99.9% similar between humans!
4. There are 6 steps to fingerprinting:
1. Isolation of DNA
2. Cutting, sizing, and sorting of DNA
3. Transfer of DNA to nylon
4. Probing
5. Probing
6. DNA Fingerprint
5. **NOTE: THIS PROCESS WAS MADE TO DO AT HOME**
Obtain a sample of DNA from mouth, and spit
into a shot glass
Add 3 pinches of table salt
Add 1 mL. of dish soap-stir for 3 minutes
Do not make bubbles
Pour 5 mL. of alcohol down the glass’s side
Wait for 5 minutes
DNA will become visible, can be extracted with
toothpick
6. Restriction enzymes cut DNA
DNA then sorted by size using electrophoresis
DNA placed in gel, then electric current used to drag
pieces through the gel
Gel is made from seaweed agarose
7. Gel used in electrophoresis is placed on nylon
Allowed to sit and dry overnight, so that all
liquid is evaporated, and only DNA is left
8. Use restriction enzymes to cut DNA
Add radioactive N-bases to DNA Pol, which
are coded for a wanted gene
Once the DNA Pol has synthesized a new DNA
strand, the radioactive labels will be able to be
read!
9. The DNA fingerprint can now be assembled
Have the radioactive labels transfer to the sheet
Align the genetic information with that of the
criminal/suspect
You are now ready to catch a criminal!
