DNA fingerprinting is the process of taking a cell sample from a person and analyzing it to compare it with the DNA of another person. DNA fingerprinting should not be confused with the traditional idea of fingerprinting (making an imprint of a person's fingerprints in ink). DNA fingerprinting can involve any cell in the body, as DNA repeats itself throughout a person's entire body. In this article, we will go over what DNA is, what DNA fingerprinting is and how it works, how DNA fingerprinting got started, the applications for DNA fingerprinting, and the various problems associated with DNA fingerprinting.
What is DNA
Every living organism, whether an animal, plant, or insect, has a specific strand of "markers" that tell the body how to structure itself. These markers are called deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA, for short. DNA contains all the information needed to create a human being, including eye color, skin color, hair color, size, average weight, conditions passed down through the family, parts of your personality, and everything else that makes you who you are. Think of DNA like blueprints for a house. DNA not only includes the basic layout, but every little detail. Some parts of DNA are noticeable but other parts are hidden that control the background details of both your body and mind.
What is DNA Fingerprinting
While most of our DNA is the same, there is a certain percentage of our DNA that differs from person to person. Because of this difference, we are all genetically unique even though we share many of the same characteristics. DNA fingerprinting, while having nothing to do with actual fingerprinting, involves analyzing these differences to figure out if two samples of DNA are from the same person, family members, or people that have no connection whatsoever. Instead of anaylzing entire strands of DNA, scientists have discovered that DNA tends to repeat itself in a pattern throughout these strands. By comparing tiny segments of these strands, they can reach a conclusive probability of the two people in questions.
How It Works
DNA fingerprinting involves taking a sample of a person's DNA by collecting blood, saliva, semen, hair, or any other type of sample that is available. The sample is then analyzed by using one of the following methods: RFLP Analysis, PCR Analysis, STR Analysis, AmpFLP, DNA Family Relationship Analysis, Y Chromosome Analysis, or Mitochondrial Analysis. The sample is then stored and compared to other DNA profiles in a database to see if the DNA of two samples match.
Origins
DNA fingerprinting was first used in 1984 by Sir Alex Jeffreys. Jeffreys started his work at the University of Leicester but began to branch out soon afterwards when a chemical company known as ICI opened a blood-testing center nearby. Jeffreys used his DNA fingerprinting methods to aid in the establishment of some of the world's largest DNA databases. By 1987, Jeffrey's DNA fingerprinting was released to the public and became commercially available.
Uses For DNA Fingerprinting
DNA fingerprinting has a few important uses that have provided society with more information in the past few decades than in the last 500 years. DNA fingerprinting can be used to establish lineage among family members, aid in the capture of criminals and the release of innocent, and for personal identification. Below, we will discuss these applications in detail so that you may grasp the importance of DNA fingerprinting.
1. Lineage
DNA fingerprinting can be used to figure out if two people are related which aids tremendulously in maternity or paternity tests to show that a person is a mother or father to a specific child. DNA fingerprinting can also be used to trace heritage back for generations. This means that not only can you figure out who your mother and father are, but also siblings, aunts, uncles, grandparents, great grandparents, and even further back. DNA fingerprinting has been able to show relations to people today with bone remnants of people that have been dead for centuries, when bones have been preserved.
2. Law Enforcement
DNA fingerprinting has aided in law enforcement since its discovery. Forensics teams can analyze DNA found at a crime scene, whether it be blood, hair, semen, or skin particles, and compare it with DNA samples found in a DNA database to find out who committed a crime. DNA fingerprinting can also be used to identify a victim even if the person is disfigured beyond recognition and dental records cannot be established. DNA fingerprinting has been used to prove suspects guilty of a crime and has set innocent people free when earlier evidence has proven them guilty. DNA fingerprinting is not perfect and there is still much controversy over whether it can be used in a court of law, but regardless, it remains an essential part of our criminal justice system.
3. Personal Identification
DNA fingerprinting has also been thought of as a future method of identification. The way it would work is that a sample of DNA could be analyzed on spot and compared to a database of specific DNA belonging to authorized personnel. While DNA is the ultimate bar code, it would be too expensive and impractical to use DNA fingerprinting for personal identification while other means of identification such as picture ID and social security numbers (although both can be faked) are available.
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