FAMOUS CASES OF DNA

FINGERPRINTING
• Colin Pitchfork
was the first
criminal based
on DNA
fingerprinting
evidence. He
was arrested in
1986 for the rape and murder of the two
girls and was sentenced in 1988.
• Simpson was cleared of a double
murdercharge in 1994 which relied heavily
on DNA evidence. This cases highlighted
lab difficulties.
 USES
Since it \\7as invented in 1984, DNA fingerprinting
most often has been used in court cases and legal
1natters. It can:
• Physically connect a piece of evidence to a
person or 11de out someone as a suspect.
• Sho\\7 who your parents. siblings. and other
relatives may be.
• Identify a dead body that' s too old or damaged
to be recognizable.
DNA fingerprinting is extremely accurate. Most
countries no\\!~keep DNA records on file in much the
same \\'ay police keep copies of actual fingerp1ints.
It also has medical uses. It can:
• Match tissues of organ donors \\7ith those of
people \\7ho need transplants.
• Identify diseases that are passed down through
your family.
. Help find cures for those diseases. called
hereditary conditions.
Disadvantages
1. The sa111ple of DNA can easily be 1uined dtuing. the
process of DNA finge1printing. causing the sainple to
beco111e con1pletely useless for testing
2. The process itself is co111plex and tedious. ai1d can give
results that 111ay be hai·d to interpret
3. The test needs to be 11111 on 1nultiple saiuples. a
nu1nerous ruuotu1t of tunes for ideal accw·acy. Cormnonly.
labs 11.u1 each test t\vice ,vith four sruuples.
4. Privacy issues could occtu· if the infonuation isn't kept
secw·e at th.e lab. Personal infonuation legally can only be
released ,vith a ,vritten order. This personal infonuation if
leaked. could potentially co111plicate insurance processes.
health care and job prospects for an indiYidual.
ADVANTAGES AN D

DISADVANTAGED

Advantages
1.It is an easy a11d pautless n1ethod for the subje ct bein g
tested. It is less lllYasiYe then talcing a bloo d sainple.
2. It is an affordable ai1d reliable teclu uque
3. It can be cond ucted rn a relatiYely sho11 ai11ow1t of ti111e
4. Anyone at ai1y age cai1 be teste d \Vith tliis 1nethod
\vithout any 1najor conc erns

5. There is a large Yai-iety of uses such as in legal clai.111s.

nus sing persons cases. ident ifica tion for the nulit aiy. atld
patei nity and prenatal testin g
 APPLICATION OF DNA

FINGERPRINTING

• Used as tool in forensic investigation.

• To settle patemity disputes.

• To study evolution by detennining the
genetic diversities among populations.

r
1 _Blood sample

2 _DNAistsxbaded frown blood eels

3 _DNAis cut intofrag,c.cnls by a oesttdion enzyme

4 _TheDNAf~aresepa,aedintobandsduring
elecbophoresis in an agarose gel

5_ The DNAbands pattan in 1he gel is 1ransfenedto a nylon

membrane by a technicJJe kllO'M'I as southern blullioy_

6 _The racfaoadive DNA probe is prepared_

7 _The DNA probe bnls to speci&: DNA sequences on the

membrane_

s_rxce:n DNA probe is washed off_

9 _At this stage the racioadive probe is bound to the DNA pattern
on the membrane_

1o_X-rayfim is placed next to the membrane to detect lhe

radioactive pattern_
 PROCESS OF DNA Fl NGERPRINTING

Southern Blotting to Visualize DNA

RHtriction digested
EJCPCM
"7kDNA~~ ~ Rad~cnvc Pro~ i
X,ayfilm

6-
- 7 CICICI

Pree,.. hybrldlltd

~1 s 4
t to rtstriction
fr~nt I C>fwlop
X-ray film

X-~ flm

I 8 .

Pas,t, towels
NitrocelhJlose membtant
~ ..,,r..- Gel ~ttnnine size of
Spo,.e rtstriction fra,ment
" - - -- ..!:!11"'---.Tray with buffer that hyb,ld,m to \J •