Applications of DNA Identity Testing Through DNA Fingerprinting

Abstract

The similarity of the DNA sequences between all individuals is more than 99%. However,
the remaining sequence difference is unique and significant enough to distinguish
between the humans. These sequences are the target of testing the identity of the
organism. DNA fingerprinting is a technique used for DNA identity testing. The other two
techniques are DNA profiling and DNA typing with all three often used interchangeably.
The current review paper deals with the applications of DNA fingerprinting, a term which
was first used in 1985 by Alec Jeffreys. Since then, the technique has found profound
applications in forensics, to confirm parentage, criminal investigations, rape cases, medical
diagnostics, paleontology, archaeology, plant breeding and many more. Different methods
used in DNA fingerprinting include Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP),
Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP), Short Tandem Repeats (STRs) and
polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). The paper discusses the methods briefly and highlights
the salient applications of the technique.