Lab 7 - DNA Fingerprinting and

Gel Electrophoresis
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After completing this activity,
students will be able to:
Identify the steps to DNA Fingerprinting
Recognize patterns in DNA, and where the
patterns come from
Describe other ways that DNA Fingerprinting
can be used, besides in crime scene analysis

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What is DNA Fingerprinting?
A technique used by scientists to distinguish between
individuals of the same species using only samples of
their DNA
Unlike a conventional fingerprint that occurs only on
the fingertips and can be altered by surgery, a DNA
fingerprint is the same for every cell, tissue, and organ
of a person. It cannot be altered by any known
treatment.
Consequently, DNA fingerprinting has been used as the
primary method for identifying and distinguishing
among individual human beings, since 1987.

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Who Invented it?
The process of DNA
fingerprinting was
developed by Alec
Jeffreys at the
University of Leicester,
in England, in 1985.

He was knighted in
1994, for his service to
science and technology.

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The first step is to
obtain a sample of DNA
evidence from blood, or
other bodily fluid.
DNA is present in white
blood cells of humans,
but not red blood cells
which lack nuclei.



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Biological materials used for DNA
Fingerprinting
Blood
Hair follicles
Saliva
Semen
Body tissue cells
Hair
Bone
Urine (if it contains
epithelial cells)


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Steps of DNA Fingerprinting
Next, cells are broken
down to release DNA

If only a small amount
of DNA is available it
can be amplified
(meaning make lots
more of it) using the
polymerase chain
reaction (PCR)

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PCR can be used to create thousands or
millions of copies of a piece of DNA.
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Steps of DNA Fingerprinting
Then, the DNA is
cut into
fragments using
restriction
enzymes.

Each restriction
enzyme cuts DNA
at a specific base
sequence.

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Steps of DNA Fingerprinting
The sections of DNA that
are cut out are called
restriction fragments.
This yields thousands of
restriction fragments of
all different sizes because
the base sequences
being cut may be far
apart (long fragment) or
close together (short
fragment).


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Steps of DNA Fingerprinting
Fragments are separated
on the basis of size using
a process called gel
electrophoresis.
DNA fragments are
injected into wells and an
electric current is applied
along the gel causing the
negatively charged
fragments to move.
The gel is made of
agarose, a jelly-like
substance made out of
seaweed that allows the
fragments of DNA to pass
through.

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Steps of DNA Fingerprinting
A radioactive material is
added which combines
with the DNA fragments
to produce a
fluorescent image.

A photographic copy of
the DNA bands is
obtained.

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Steps of DNA Fingerprinting
The pattern of fragment distribution is then
analysed.

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Simple Overview
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Uses of DNA Fingerprinting
Diagnosis of Inherited
Disorders
Developing Cures for
Inherited Disorders
Biological Evidence
Personal Identification

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DNA and Crimes
Forensic science is the use of scientific
knowledge in legal situations.
The DNA Fingerprint of each individual is
highly specific.
The chances of two people having exactly the
same DNA Fingerprint is three million to 1
(except for identical twins).

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DNA Fingerprinting can solve crimes
The DNA fingerprint pattern is compared with
those of the victim and the suspect.

If matches the suspect, it provides strong
evidence that the suspect was present at the
crime scene (It does not prove they committed
the crime).

If the DNA fingerprint doesnt match the suspect
then that suspect may be eliminated from the
inquiry.

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What kind of crime might DNA
fingerprinting provide evidence for?
A violent murder occurred.
The forensics team retrieved a blood sample
from the crime scene.
Scientists prepare DNA fingerprints of the
blood sample, the victim and two suspects as
follows:

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Which suspect was at the crime scene?
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Solving Medical Problems
DNA fingerprints can be used to determine whether
a particular person is the parent of a child.
A child's paternity (father) and maternity (mother)
can be determined.
This information can be used in
Paternity suits
Inheritance cases
Immigration cases

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Example: A Paternity Test
By comparing the DNA Fingerprint of a mother
and her child it is possible to identify DNA
fragments in the child which are absent from
the mother and must therefore have been
inherited from the biological father.
Can help us identify health issues from one
side of the family.

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Is this man the father of the child?
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Famous cases the largest child
support amount ever awarded
In 2002 Elizabeth Hurley
used DNA profiling to
prove that Steve Bing
was the father of her
child.
Hurley received
$158,000 a month for
child support.

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Famous Cases
Colin Pitchfork was the
first criminal caught
based on DNA
fingerprinting evidence.
He was arrested in 1986
for the rape and murder
of two girls and was
sentenced in 1988.
Caught as a result of
mass screenings

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Famous Cases
O.J. Simpson was
acquitted of a double
murder charge in 1994
which relied heavily
on DNA evidence.
This case highlighted
lab difficulties and the
handling of evidence


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