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DNA Fingerprinting
Developed and coined in the year 1984 by its founding father Alec Jeffries at the University of Leicester, DNA Fingerprinting has become one of the most important developments in the field of biotechnology.
Unique and highly reliable, DNA Fingerprinting is fast replacing other methods and techniques of individual distinction and identification, including fingerprint identification which has been used by police authorities since 1930s.
A truly remarkable method of identifying and establishing personal identification, DNA Fingerprinting has even been used to analyse the Marfan’s Syndrome from the blood-stained cloth of Abraham Lincoln.
The main idea underlying DNA Fingerprinting is that a DNA Fingerprint is the same for every cell, tissue, blood, and others of an individual. The individual traits of every person are contained in their DNA. Although the chemical structure of DNA is the same for all, every person has a different sequence or unique order of base pairs in his or her DNA. And this unique sequence in the order of the base pairs makes each person’s DNA unique and different.
DNA Fingerprinting involves a series of steps.
- First, the DNA is isolated, which means the DNA is extracted from blood, saliva, semen, or any other tissue or fluid.
- Second, the isolated DNA is cut, sized, and sorted by using special enzymes called restriction enzymes.
- Third, the DNA pieces are then transferred to a nylon sheet.
- Fourth, radioactive probes are added to the nylon sheet to produce a pattern of DNA Fingerprints.
- Fifth, several probes are added to the pattern to finally produce the DNA Fingerprints.
Since 1987, DNA Fingerprinting is being used for personal identification, criminal tracking, establishing parenthood, identifying inherent genetic and other disorders and diseases such as cystic fibrosis, Huntington’s disease, and others.
DNA Fingerprinting, a revolutionary development in the realm of science, has proved to be a blessing and gift to mankind
Your genes, your blueprint
Anybody can do anything that he imagines. - Henry Ford