Notes 7

DNA Fingerprinting

Key Questions
1. How is DNA evidence used to solve crimes?
2. How do scientists create DNA fingerprints?
3. Once created how do you read and compare
DNA fingerprints?

DNA - Deoxyribonucleic acid

DNA is the hereditary

material found in all
cells.
Its is a polymer made
up of billions of
nucleotides.
The combination of
nucleotides makes
different proteins.

The Human Genome

Humans have 46 chromosomes which contain
roughly 25,000 genes;1% of the genome.

The location of a gene on a

chromosome is called a
locus.
Alleles are different forms
of the same gene.

Chromosome structure
Coding Regions & Non-coding regions
Portions of the
DNA that code
for proteins
Hemoglobin, Skin Pigment

Portions of the
DNA that doesnt
code for proteins
STR & VNTR length polymorphisms

The genome differs from person to person

by .1%
DNA
fingerprinting
compares these
non coding
regions to
determine if crime
scene DNA
matches suspect
DNA.

Steps for creating a fingerprint

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Isolate/Clean/Amplify the DNA sample(s).

Cut up the DNA with restriction enzymes.
Put DNA fragments through Electrophesis.
Take a picture.
Compare.

DNA Basics

DNA fingerprinting for paternity

testing

Paternity Evidence

Paternity Evidence

CIS DNA Fingerprinting

CIS DNA Fingerprinting