Dna Fingerprinting

DNA fingerprinting is a technique used to analyse an individual’s DNA, in order to identify them uniquely. It is mainly used in forensic science, for identification purposes such as confirming the paternity of a child, or to prove a person’s link to a crime scene. This technique is highly sensitive and accurate, and involves comparing long stretches of DNA found in a sample, to create a ‘fingerprint’ of that person’s DNA. This fingerprint distinguishes a person from another and can even discrepancies between family members. It can assess an individual’s risk of developing certain diseases and is used in the medical field to analyse the genetic background of a person. DNA fingerprinting also has applications in the agricultural field, such as identifying the genetic make-up of crop strains and livestock.