15 Questions
What is the purpose of DNA fingerprinting?
Identify the origin of a blood sample in a criminal investigation
What is the role of restriction enzymes in DNA fingerprinting?
Cutting DNA at specific points along the strand
Who developed the technique of DNA fingerprinting in 1984?
Alec Jeffreys
What type of DNA sequences did Alec Jeffreys identify as highly variable and repeated within genes?
Minisatellites
What makes each individual's DNA pattern unique in DNA fingerprinting?
The pattern of minisatellites
What type of cells are typically used to obtain DNA samples for fingerprinting?
Blood cells
Besides identifying genetic disorders, what other application does DNA fingerprinting have?
Establishing paternity or maternity
Which of the following is NOT a common use of DNA fingerprinting?
Predicting an individual's likelihood of developing certain diseases
What is the primary reason that each individual's DNA fingerprint is unique?
The number of repeats in the minisatellite sequences is different for each person
What is the purpose of using restriction enzymes in the DNA fingerprinting process?
To separate the DNA fragments by size
What is the main advantage of using DNA fingerprinting over traditional fingerprinting?
DNA fingerprinting is more accurate in identifying individuals
Which of the following is a key difference between DNA fingerprinting and genetic testing for disease prediction?
DNA fingerprinting is used to identify individuals, while genetic testing for disease prediction is used to predict an individual's likelihood of developing certain diseases
What is the significance of Alec Jeffreys' discovery of highly variable minisatellite sequences in the development of DNA fingerprinting?
It revealed the uniqueness of each individual's DNA pattern
Which of the following is a limitation of DNA fingerprinting compared to traditional fingerprinting?
DNA fingerprinting is more time-consuming and costly
How does the use of DNA fingerprinting in criminal investigations differ from its use in establishing paternity or maternity?
Criminal investigations focus on the uniqueness of an individual's DNA pattern, while paternity/maternity testing looks for shared DNA between parents and offspring
Study Notes
DNA Fingerprinting
- DNA Fingerprinting is a technique used to identify and evaluate genetic information in a person's cells.
Uses of DNA Fingerprinting
- Trace the inheritance of genetic disorders
- Identify the origin of a blood, semen, or saliva sample in a criminal investigation
- Establish paternity or maternity
Procedure for Creating a DNA Fingerprint
- Obtain a sample of cells containing DNA (e.g. skin, hair, or blood cells)
- Extract and purify the DNA
- Cut the DNA at specific points with restriction enzymes
- Produce fragments of varying lengths
Discovery of DNA Fingerprinting
- Developed in 1984 by British geneticist Alec Jeffreys
- Based on the discovery of highly variable DNA sequences (minisatellites) that are repeated within genes
Unique Pattern of Minisatellites
- Each individual has a unique pattern of minisatellites (except for identical twins)
- Unlikely for two people to have exactly the same DNA information, similar to physical fingerprints
Explore the various applications of DNA fingerprinting in genetic disorders, criminal investigations, and establishing paternity or maternity. Learn about the procedure involved in creating a DNA fingerprint from different cell samples like skin, hair, and blood cells.
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