DNA profiling

99.9% of all human DNA is the same. In a healthy human, the DNA that codes for making enzymes,
blood cells or nerves cells is all the same DNA code. It is the material located on strand of DNA in
between these “coding” areas that is different. This in-between DNA is also made up of the four nucleic
acids of thymine, adenine, cytosine and guanine and is quite variable, which leads to the ability to use
this area to distinguish differences in individuals. These areas are called short tandem repeats because
they are 1-6 bases in length, are repeated many times one after the other.

How are STRs used in identification? The mathematical probability of the occurrence of a certain number
of repeats at a STR is well studied and can be calculated. Profiles are compared in CODIS. It is
estimated that the chance of having the same STR profile with the 13 core STRs is more than all the
people who have ever lived!

What is CODIS? CODIS is the acronym for the FBI’s Combined DNA Index System. It is a database of
the DNA information used by the criminal justice system. The National DNA Index System or NDIS is
considered one part of CODIS, the national level, containing the DNA profiles contributed by federal,
state, and local participating forensic laboratories. Originally, the FBI used 13 core forensic identification
STRs. It was expanded in 2017 to a total of 20 markers.

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VCE BIOLOGY: UNIT 3-4 | DR. DULANGI S. JAYASUNDERA
STR example: A STR site known D7S820 contains between 5 and 16 repeats of the nucleotide
sequence of GA-T-A. The person below would inherit 6 copies of GATA from one parent and 8 copies
from the other parent. Their genotype would be 6,8 for D7S820.

Do STRs have a function? It was originally thought that STRs had no function and have been thought
to be part of “junk-DNA” or “introns”. (Parts of the genome that does not code for proteins) More research
is being done on this topic, however. A few of the studies being done are investigating how STRs might
have a role in regulating transcription, bacterial mutations, and may influence gene regulation.

STRs are inherited in a Mendelian fashion, rendering them very useful in identification.

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VCE BIOLOGY: UNIT 3-4 | DR. DULANGI S. JAYASUNDERA
Applications of DNA profiling
Paternity Testing: Children inherit half of their alleles from each parent and thus should possess a
combination of their parents’ alleles. In other words, all fragments produced in the child should also be
produced by either the mother or father.

Forensic Investigation: Suspect DNA should be a complete match with the sample taken from a crime
scene if a conviction is to occur.

Sources of DNA for crime scene

Any cells have a nucleus.
Blood-white blood cells, semen- sperm cells, saliva, white blood cells and cheek cells, hair follicle
Teeth -pulp, skin cells

Issues related to genetic engineering.

False positive results due to contaminations with foreign DNA

Privacy issues- storing of DNA profiles after serving the sentences.

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VCE BIOLOGY: UNIT 3-4 | DR. DULANGI S. JAYASUNDERA