2010 - 2011

F.6 Biology Project

DNA Fingerprinting
Group members:
Eugenie Lam (10)
Yvonne Poon (23)
Joanne Tai (26)

Have you ever read these news?

A. What is DNA Fingerprinting?

A technique of identifying and distinguishing
between individuals of the same species using
the fragments of DNA
Mainly analyzes the differences in given
minisatellites
Other terms:
Genetic Fingerprinting or DNA Profiling

B. Historical facts of DNA Fingerprinting

1984
Sir Alec Jeffreys at
Leicester University in
UK found that myoglobin
genes contain many
segments that
- have different sizes and
composition
- with no apparent
function
He then developed a way
that uses pictures of X-ray
bands to show the genetic
make-up of individuals

1987
Henry Erlich developed a highlysensitive new technique called
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
by isolating several minisatellite
genes
Increase the amount of identical
DNA available for analysis from
very small samples
The cells of the samples must
have nucleus (the site which
contains DNA)
e.g. blood, saliva, hair follicles,
skin, semen

C. Principle of DNA Fingerprinting

Each individual has DNA of different base-pair sequences
in their DNA
Each sequence varies in the number of times it is repeated
The nucleotides in the non-coding region of DNA are
- Highly variable
- Usually carry short sequences of bases (around 2-6 pairs)
with small number of repeats
- With no apparent function
Known as a kind of Minisatellites called VNTR
(Variable number of tandem repeats)
Tandem repeats: repeated sequence of nucleotides that join
together in clusters

C. Principle of DNA Fingerprinting

Each individual carries two allelic minisatellites at a
particular locus with one inherited from the mother
and one from the father
A person can be identified relatively by comparing
1. Lengths
2. Base sequences
of a given minisatellite between individuals
The closer the relationship, the more the similarities
in their tandem repeats
More common bands would be shown in their
DNA fingerprinting patterns

D. Process of preparing
DNA Fingerprint
Extraction of
DNA

Autoradiography

Cut up DNA

Electrophoresis

Southern Blotting

Extraction of DNA
Isolate and extract DNA from sample

Cut up DNA
Add restriction enzyme into DNA
Cut the long DNA molecules at specific
locations called restriction site
Form fragments of different lengths and
sizes which will vary between
individuals

Electrophoresis
Electrophoresis: process in which electrical
charges separate DNA fragments according to
size
The fragments of DNA would pass through a
layer of thick, porous and jelly-like agarose gel by
Electrophoresis
Smaller pieces of negatively-charged DNA would
be attracted towards the positive terminal (+) at a
faster speed than the larger pieces due to the
resistance of the gel
Banding patterns are produced but we cannot
observe this change yet as the bands are not
visible at this stage

Electrophoresis

Southern Blotting
Southern Blotting: for detection of a specific
sequence in DNA samples
4a.
Press the paper against the gel
The alkaline solution placed below the gel would
be pulled through the gel by capillary action
Denature the double-stranded DNA to singlestranded
Single-stranded DNA is being pulled to the top
and stick to a sheet of nitrocellulose paper
DNA banding patterns are then transferred

Southern Blotting
4b.
Add radioactive DNA probes (pieces of DNA
that have been radioactively treated)
They will attach to the DNA fragments on the
nitrocellulose paper by specific
complementary base pairing

Southern Blotting
Blotting

Autoradiography
Place an X-ray film onto the nitrocellulose
paper
Radioactive DNA probes that attached to the
DNA fragments will fog the X-ray film
Produce dark bands on the x-ray film by
Autoradiography

Autoradiography
Probes

Such banding pattern

produced in DNA
fingerprinting is called
DNA fingerprint

Question 1
Arrange the following brief stages of preparing a DNA
fingerprint in the correct order.

BAECD

E. Applications of DNA Fingerprinting

Forensics
Corpse identification
Personal identification

Diagnosis and Cure of genetic diseases

Parentage test
Tracing pedigrees

Identification of the evolutionary relationship of living organisms

Forensics
DNA fingerprinting technology helps to
determine a criminal suspect is whether guilty or
innocent
Base on the premise that:
DNA fingerprint of each individual is unique
(except identical twins)
Most attackers or killers will leave some genetic
evidence like some measure of body fluid e.g.
saliva, blood at the scene of crime
The DNA fingerprint obtained from samples of
different materials would be exactly the same if
the samples are all come from the same individual

Forensics
Principle:
Compare the DNA
fingerprinting pattern of the
suspect with that of the
evidence found

M AT C H

N O T M AT C H

The suspect was probably

present at the scene of crime

The suspect could be

excluded from suspicion

Forensics
Illustration:
Who probably killed
Bowie?
Hint: The suspect who has the
same DNA fingerprint as that
of the evidence found at the
crime scene is the killer!

Question 1
Situation:
In a forensic result, the victim was being raped
and murdered.
The evidence was taken from the body of the
victim, while blood samples were taken from
the four suspects.
A sample was also taken from the victim.

i. Who was probably the killer among the four suspects? Why?
Suspect 1. The DNA fingerprint pattern of he/she is the same
with that of the evidence.
The forensic experts may take a sample from the victim for
analyze
See if the DNA fingerprint of the evidence is being
contaminated by the DNA fingerprint of the victim

Question 2
The bloodstain was an
evidence of the crime.
Which of the suspects
was probably present at
the scene of crime?
Suspect 3.

E. Applications of DNA Fingerprinting

Forensics
Corpse identification
Personal identification

Diagnosis and Cure of genetic diseases

Parentage test
Tracing pedigrees

Identification of the evolutionary relationship of living organisms

Corpse Identification
DNA is obtained from suspected family
members to provide identification
DNA is extracted from the unidentified corpse
Determine if the DNA fingerprint of the unidentified corpse
has certain similarities with that of the family members
Identity of the corpse can be determined

Still workable even the corpse has been badly damaged

E. Applications of DNA Fingerprinting

Forensics
Corpse identification
Personal identification

Diagnosis and Cure of genetic diseases

Parentage test
Tracing pedigrees

Identification of the evolutionary relationship of living organisms

Personal Identification
DNA can be collected from anyone under criminal
arrest by the government authorities and also
from the illegal immigrants detained

Sample is fingerprinted

Match their DNA fingerprints with the DNA database

Unidentified immigrants can be named and their official

country of residence can be known from their DNA fingerprints

E. Applications of DNA Fingerprinting

Forensics
Corpse identification
Personal identification

Diagnosis and Cure of genetic diseases

Parentage test
Tracing pedigrees

Identification of the evolutionary relationship of living organisms

Diagnosis of Genetic Diseases

Human:
The likelihood of an individual to develop certain genetic diseases
could be determined from the DNA fingerprint of that individual
Pregnant women could know the possibility of the foetus having
genetic diseases by taking a drop of blood from the mother for
analyzing
These genetic diseases include cancers, hemophilia, sickle cell
disease, Down syndrome, Parkinsons disease etc.
Animals:
The likelihood of animals to develop genetic diseases could also be
determined
e.g. Puppies are tested before selling so that buyers can avoid
buying those suffer from diseases like Progressive Retinal Atrophy
()

Finding a Cure for Genetic Diseases

DNA fingerprints could help research programs to
1. Identify DNA patterns of the disease
2. Locate inherited disorders on the chromosomes
Method to find a cure:
1. By studying the DNA fingerprints of relatives
who have a history of some particular disorder
2. By comparing large groups of people with and
without the disorder

E. Applications of DNA Fingerprinting

Forensics
Corpse identification
Personal identification

Diagnosis and Cure of genetic diseases

Parentage test
Tracing pedigrees

Identification of the evolutionary relationship of living organisms

Parentage test
Different kinds of parentage tests:
Mother, Possible Father and Highly accurate (100% accuracy)
Child Test

Possible Father and Child

Test
Prenatal Parentage Test

99.9% accuracy
Paternity relationship can be known before
the child is born by using prenatal samples

Umbilical Cord DNA

Parentage Test

Blood test is taken at birth to determine

paternity relationship

Home Parentage Test

For answering family or personal questions

and not for any legal purposes

Grandparent DNA Test

Both of the Paternal or Maternal Grandparents can be

tested in order to determine the likelihood of genetic
relationship if the suspected Mother or Father are
unavailable

Parentage test
Mother, Possible Father and Child Test

To determine whether a person is the parents of a child

Respective samples containing DNA from
mother, child and suspected father are tested
Examine the DNA fingerprinting of the mother and child to
determine the DNA fingerprinting pattern of the father

Mathematical analysis will be done to determine

the likelihood of him being the father
If the suspected father shows exactly the same DNA
fingerprinting pattern of the father, he is the father of the child

Parentage test
Mother, Possible Father and Child Test

Principle:

DNA fingerprint
of the individual
maybe entirely
the same with
the mother

The genetic material of an

individual is inherited from
the mother and father

DNA fingerprint
of the individual
maybe entirely
the same with
the father

DNA fingerprint of the

individual is maybe the
combination of the
fingerprint pattern of
the mother and father

If the DNA fingerprint of that individual has a segment

which both parents do not have, then paternity and
maternity can be denied

Parentage test
Mother, Possible Father and Child Test

Illustration:
Who is the father of the
child?
Hint: All the bands present in the
DNA fingerprint of the child
should be found in the DNA
fingerprint of the parents!
Suspected Father 2.
Mother Child Suspected Suspected
Father 1 Father 2

E. Applications of DNA Fingerprinting

Forensics
Corpse identification
Personal identification

Diagnosis and Cure of genetic diseases

Parentage test
Tracing pedigrees

Identification of the evolutionary relationship of living organisms

Tracing Pedigrees
Human pedigrees:
DNA fingerprinting can help to find out the
relationship among members in a family,
including:
- Paternity
- Maternity
- Grandparentage
- Sibling-ship (brothers/sisters)
The members in a family show certain
similarities in their DNA fingerprinting bands

Question 1
i. Which 2 individuals are
identical twins?
Hint: They have the same
DNA fingerprint as their
genetic materials are
identical!

B and E.
ii. Apart from A, who is also
the parent of person F?
D.

Question 1
iii. Could C be the
sibling of F?
Hint: All the bands present in
the DNA fingerprint of all
children should be found in
the DNA fingerprint of the
parents (i.e. A & D)!
No. There are bandings in C
which did not appear in F.

Question 2
Situation:
The DNA fingerprint of a
family is shown on the left.
i. If male A and female B are
married, could C be the
child of A and B?
Yes. All bandings of C are
either from A or B. A and B
are therefore the parents of C.

Family Relationship
Illustration:
Situation:
The DNA fingerprint of a
family is shown on the left,
where
A: Father of C
B: A female
C: A male
D: A female

Family Relationship
Illustration:
A: Father of C, B: a female
C: a male, D: a female

What is the probable

relationship of B with C?
Mother. The bands of C are
either from A or B.

Family Relationship
Illustration:
A: Father of C, B: a female
C: a male, D: a female

What is the probable

relationship of D with C?
Sister.
- The bands of D are either
from A or B.
- D has many bands
common to C.

Tracing Pedigrees
Animal pedigrees:
DNA fingerprinting can help to find out the
ancestry of animals
Also help checking the genetic traits of the
animals
e.g. A horse pedigree can clearly state the
colour, weight and genetic constitution of its
ancestors
Plant pedigrees can also be traced by DNA
fingerprinting

Tracing Pedigrees
Pedigree

E. Applications of DNA Fingerprinting

Forensics
Corpse identification
Personal identification

Diagnosis and Cure of genetic diseases

Parentage test
Tracing pedigrees

Identification of the evolutionary relationship of living organisms

Identification of Evolutionary Relationship

The DNA found in dried museum specimens or
ambers (with insects housed in) is analyzed

The DNA fingerprint pattern obtained is compared with

the DNA fingerprint pattern of the modern species

The relationship between different species

could then be determined

Identification of Evolutionary Relationship

evolution

F. Implication of DNA Fingerprinting

G. Interesting Facts
Results may not be helpful when the person
have had a blood transfusion within the past 3
months
The hair by itself may not be enough for DNA
typing, but it can be useful if it is accompanied
by hair follicle cells
The team that develop processes to identify the
victims of September 11th was successful in
identifying more than 20,000 remains of the
victims

DNA Profiling service in Hong Kong

The End
Thank you