2. Overall Process
Video of DNA Fingerprinting
Process
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drC7rR7CIBg
3. Isolation of the DNA!
In order for a DNA fingerprint to be made
you must first gather DNA from the person
you are fingerprinting.
There are many things you could use to
gather DNA… Human Cheek Cells
1. Blood
2. Hair
3. Skin
4. Saliva
5. Or any other
cell with DNA in
it.
4. Restriction Enzymes
• Used to cut DNA into pieces that are specific
to each individual persons DNA.
• Specific Enzymes cut the DNA
into pieces at specific places as
well. For Example…
• EcoR1 cuts only when the
sequence GAATTC occurs.
5. Restriction Enzymes Continued!
• Sticky Ends are made by cutting
the DNA in a staggered manner
and they have a one stranded
DNA sequence that have
complementary nucleotides
• Blunt Ends are made by
cutting the DNA directly
down the middle of two
nucleotides
6. Gel Electrophoresis
• Samples of cut DNA are
placed in an agarose gel
• Electricity is added to the
gel and the DNA travels
to the positive pole and
they are spread out
according to size.
7. Transfer to Nylon Screen
•Because the gels are so hard to
manipulate the DNA pattern is transferred
to a nylon sheet using the process of
southern blotting
•Nylon is added to the agarose gel and
then a piece of paper is added on top this
absorbs the DNA bands onto the nylon.
8. Probing and X-Ray
•Probes are radioactive particles that
bind themselves to the main sequence.
•Extra probes that are left over are
removed and what is left is only the
DNA chain needed to make the
fingerprint
•This can be scanned by an X-ray
machine and it will produce a picture of
the DNA fingerprint
10. Uses for DNA Fingerprints
• Paternity Testing
• Determining who committed a crime
•Diagnosis of inherited disorders
•Developing Cures for inherited
disorders
11. Ethical Concerns
•People worry that the use of DNA will
eventually lead to discrimination using DNA
also known as genoism.
•People could be denied health care,
an education, a job etc.
