Genetic Fingerprinting - Assignment Example

The fragments produced are invisible at this stage and so the fragments are transferred to a nylon membrane using southern blotting which involves adding a layer f absorbent paper to the nylon membrane. The DNA is then drawn upwards by capillary motion. The DNA fragments are then denatured by heating to give single-stranded DNA. A radioactive isotope f phosphorus with a base sequence identical to one f the VNTR sequences is used to locate the particular bands. This is also known as a DNA probe and it binds to its complementary single-stranded DNA.

Any excess probe is washed off. The probes are accurately located by placing X-ray film over the nylon membrane. DNA fingerprinting is a method that compares the fragments f DNA. DNA fingerprinting was first invented to detect the presence off genetic diseases. Today, DNA fingerprinting is used in different ways. DNA is analyzed using a Southern Blot, which allows scientists to observe the base pair patterns. DNA fingerprinting can be used in a few different ways. First, to find out if the child belongs to a person DNA fingerprinting may be used.

When a child is born, it inherits the VNTR's from the father and the mother. VNTR's are variable number tandem repeats, which is repeated sequences f base pairs. The VNTR patterns are used to determine the father or mother.