DNA Profiling

The human genome

It is all the genetic material an organism contains.
DNA is found in the nucleus and the mitochondria.
Genes that code for proteins only make up about 2% of all DNA in cells. These are called exons.
Non-coding regions of DNA are removed from mRNA before its translated. These are called introns.

Satellite DNA

Minisatellites – also called VNTRs (variable number tandem repeats)

Microsatellites

DNA profiles

SIR ALEC JEFFREY’S WORK

How’s a DNA profile done?

DNA cut with restriction enzymes.
Fragments separated by gel electrophoresis.
Cut at defined points in introns so leave some repeats and satellite regions intact.
Fragments stained to reveal a binding pattern.

Applications

Forensics

Paternity

Disease detection

Protein electrophoresis detects type of haemoglobin present in a blood sample.
This can aid diagnosis of sickle cell anaemia.
Or varying number of repeat sequences for a condition such as Huntington’s disease.