How we attempt DNA fingerprinting question …

DNA fingerprinting is a method of identifying the DNA by locating the differences in the arrangement of nucleotides in those specific regions of the DNA sequence which are repeated several times. The technique is called DNA typing or DNA profiling. DNA fingerprinting involves identifying differences in the repetitive DNA sequences. The repetitive DNA is called satellite DNA. Variation in satellite DNA is very useful in establishing the identity of victims from blood stains, semen stains, hair roots, tears or saliva and in solving paternity disputes. Steps of DNA Fingerprinting: (i) Isolation of DNA. (ii) Digestion of DNA by restriction endonucleases. (iii) Separation of DNA fragments by electrophoresis. (iv) Transferring (blotting) of separated DNA fragments to synthetic membranes, such as nitrocellulose or nylon. (v) Hybridisation using labelled VNTR probe. (vi) Detection of hybridised DNA fragments by autoradiography. Applications of DNA fingerprinting: i. It helps in identification of criminals or potential suspects and relieving people wrongly accused of crimes. ii. It is used to infer blood relationships in the members of the same family. iii. It is used to determine to the real parents of a given offspring. iv. It is used to determine the actual parents in case of a lost child. v. It is used to determine the *** of badly damaged bodies of accident victims or of archaeological specimens.