DNA fingerprinting is a technique that uses restriction enzymes and electrophoresis to cut and separate DNA fragments, allowing individuals to be distinguished by analyzing the unique patterns of fragments. Bioinformatics uses computer software to store, gather and analyze genetic data from different organisms, facilitating understanding of human diseases and drug development. During a workshop, students compared genomes of various organisms to see similarities in proteins and genetic coding.

1. DNA Fingerprinting and Bioinformatics Paragraphs<br />DNA Fingerprinting is a technique used to distinguish individuals from the same species using DNA. This was invented by a British geneticist named Alec Jeffrey. This process consists of 4 main stages. In the first cells are broken from the individuals are broken down to release the DNA which can be amplified using PCR. Next, restriction enzymes are used to cut a specific region in the DNA that wants to be identified. The third stage involves electrophoresis to separate the different fragments and finally analyzing the patterns of the fragments on the gel of the electrophoresis. This is a useful technique in crime investigation because it can identify suspects and link them to crime scenes. <br />Bioinformatics is the use of computer technology for the management of biological information. Computer software is programmed to store, gather and analyze genetic data. This information can be used to understand several human diseases and to fabricate new drugs. In the workshop we compared different organisms’ genomes seeing how they are similar in terms of proteins and genetic codifications. <br />