Applications of DNA profiles

DNA profilingDNA profiling is a method of making a unique pattern of bands from the DNA of a person, which can then be used to distinguish that DNA from other DNA.  

CrimeForensic medicine is they way in which medical knowledge is used in legal situations. DNA profiles are used in forensic (legal) cases. If biological material such as blood, hair, saliva or semen is left at the scene of a crime it can be collected and a DNA profile can be prepared. If the pattern of the DNA profile is compared with those of the victim and a suspect it may be seen that it matches that of the suspect but not that of the victim. This would be strong evidence to associate the suspect with the crime scene. Of course, the profile may not match that of the susptect, which might eliminate the suspect from the inquiry. 

MedicineDNA profiles can be used to determine whether a particular person is, or is not, the parent of a child. In this way the paternity (father) or maternity (mother) can be established. This information can apply in property or financial inheritance cases, or in immigration cases where a person can enter a country if their parent or child is already in that country. To decide if a man is the father of a child, blood samples are taken from the child, the mother and the man. DNA profiles are prepared and examined. If all the bands in the child's profile match with bands in either the mothers or the mans profile, then the man is shown to be the natural father. If some of the child's bands match those of the mother, but the rest do not match with the man's bands, then the man is not the father of the child. 

Applications of DNA profiles