1. Laboratory #5 DNA Profiling or Fingerprinting and Bioinformatics
Dr. Belinda Román
DNA Profiling or Fingerprinting is defined as the technique used to distinguish
between individuals of the same species using only a sample of their DNA. We prepared
different solutions with a special enzyme to incubate it for a period of time. After the
time is over, the DNA samples are digested. Next we did an electrophoresis to separate
the DNA pieces by different sizes. After electrophoresis, we are able to visualize and
compare its bands to determine which suspect was at the crime scene. Another skill that
we learn was working with the databases of the National Center for Biotechnology
Information (NCBI). Bioinformatics is defined as the application of computer technology
to the management of biological information. In the laboratory we had to search for a
species, check its DNA nucleotide sequences and compare it to which species it is most
similar. The importance of this application is highly useful, because it is essential to the
use of genomic information in understanding diseases around the whole world, and in the
identification of new molecular and cell targets for pharmaceutical and industrial
processes.