What Are The Uses Of DNA Profiling?

We should start firs with what is DNA profiling?, well DNA profiling is a technique used to identify individuals, it can be used in forensic science, and is specially used to confirm if people are related or not. Now at days DNA profiling is STR (Short Tandem Repeat) analysis. With this technique the only things needed to identify individual or familiar relationships are from a few skin cells, a hair root, a tiny amount of blood or saliva.

However, how can we know the uses of DNA profiling if we don’t know how can we make a DNA profile. Humans DNA have some material aspects that are common to all humans; some portions are unique within each individual wich are alleles that are inherited from the father and mother. These portions, or regions, contain two genetic types (alleles) that are inherited from the person’s mother and father. A DNA profile is done by researching an amount of these unique regions. There are five steps that are:

1. Get a sample of DNA: You can get DNA from various body fluids such as saliva, o with a blood sample, hair root among others. It can also be directly collected by using a mouth swab (wich collects inner cheek cells).

2. Extract the DNA: Chemicals are added to the cell in order break open the cells to extract the DNA from it without any other cell component.

3. Copying the DNA: By using the polymerase chain reaction, the STRs at each genetic locus are copied.

4. Determine the size of the STRs: By using a genetic analyzer, the size of each at the genetic locus is determined. By a process called gel electrophoresis the genetic analyzer separates the copied DNA and detects the fluorescent dye on each STR.

5. Match?: The chances that the two samples came from different people is low if two DNA samples are the same. This gives enough evidence to prove that the samples have a common source.

DNA profiling can be used in many ways, like:

• To identify the probable origin of a body fluid sample associated with a crime or crime scene.

• To reveal family relationships.

• To identify disaster victims.

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