Applications of DNA fingerprinting

Applications of DNA fingerprinting

The amount of DNA required for DNA fingerprint is remarkably small. The

minute quantities of DNA from blood strains, body fluids, hair fiber or skin

fragments are enough. Polymerase chain reaction is used to amplify this DNA

for use in fingerprinting. DNA profiling has wide range of applications—most of

them related to medical forensics. Some important ones are listed below.

• Identification of criminals, rapists, thieves etc.

• Settlement of paternity disputes.

• Use in immigration test cases and disputes.

In general, the fingerprinting technique is carried out by collecting the DNA

from a suspect (or a person in a paternity or immigration dispute) and matching

it with that of a reference sample (from the victim of a crime, or a close relative

in a civil case).