DNA Finger Printing
DNA Finger Printing
DNA Finger Printing
It has been a subject of human interest since primitive times when man used to
hunt for his food with the help of animal’s foot prints. Science of fingerprinting was
first used by Sir William Herschel as a method of identification in 1858. In India
the science of fingerprints was discovered by chance during a murder investigation
in Jalpaiguri in 1897.
What is DNA-fingerprinting?
DNA-fingerprinting (also called DNA typing or DNA profiling). It is a technique of
determining nucleotide sequences of certain areas of DNA which are unique to each
individual. Each person has a unique DNA fingerprint.
Unlike a conventional fingerprint that occurs only on the fingertips and can be
altered by surgery, a DNA fingerprint is the same for every cell, tissue and organ of
a person. It cannot be changed by any known treatment. The ideal way to
distinguish an individual — from other people would be his or her entire genomic
DNA sequence.
Variations occur due to mutations. While mutations in genes produce alleles with
different expressions, mutations in noncoding repetitive DNA have no immediate
impact.
These mutations in the noncoding sequences have piled up with time and form the
basis of DNA polymorphism (variation at genetic level arises due to mutations).
DNA polymorphism is the basis of genetic mapping of human genome as well as
DNA finger printing.
Short nucleotide repeats in the DNA are very specific in each individual and vary in
number from person to person but are inherited. These are the ‘Variable Number
Tandem Repeats’ (VNTRs). These are also called “minisatellites”. Each individual
inherits these repeats from his/her parents which are used as genetic markers in a
personal identity test.
For example , a child might inherit a chromosome with six tandem repeats from the
mother and the same tandem repeated four times in the homologous chromosome
inherited from the father. One half of VNTR alleles of the child resemble that of the
mother and other half with that of the father.
(ii) The DNA molecules are first broken with the help of enzyme restriction
endonuclease (called chemical knife) that cuts them into fragments. The
fragments of DNA also contain the VNTRs.
(iv) Fragments of a particular size having VNTRs are multiplied through PCR
technique. They are treated with alkaline chemicals to split them into single
stranded DNAs.
(v) The separated fragments of single stranded DNA are transfered onto a nylon
membrane.
(vii) An X-ray film is exposed to the nylon membrane to mark the places where
the radioactive DNA probes have bound to the DNA fragments. These places are
marked as dark bands when X-ray film is developed. This is known as
autoradiography.
(viii) The dark bands on X-ray film represent the DNA fingerprints (= DNA
profiles).
Applications of DNA Fingerprinting:
(i) Individuality:
Like skin finger printing (der- matoglyphics), DNA finger printing can help to
distinguish one human being from another with exception of monozygotic twins,
(v) Forensics:
DNA finger printing is very useful in the detection of crime and legal pursuits. DNA
fingerprinting has proved that Dhanu, the human bomb, was the real murderer of
Shri Rajiv Gandhi, the former Prime Minister of India,
(vi) Sociology:
It can identify racial groups, their origin, historical migration and invasions.
Genography is the study of migratory history of human species.