DNA Finger Printing Techniques to Retrieve DNA Essay

DNA Finger Printing

Techniques to retrieve DNA and the development of DNA probes have come up and made it possible the matching of DNA molecules to other DNA molecules to serve purposes like identification. This process has been incorporated into what is known as DNA fingerprinting.DNA fingerprinting is therefore a test for identification and evaluation of genetic information i.e. ones DNA. This technique is referred to as a fingerprint because two people cannot have exactly the same DNA information as it applies to fingerprints. The DNA structure of everyone's DNA is same the only difference is on the base pairs and hence the development of the different DNA sequences. The same DNA fingerprint exists on every cell, tissue and organ of an individual. No alterations can be made on a DNA fingerprint by any treatment that is known. For this reason DNA fingerprinting is rapidly becoming a commonly used method for the identification and distinguishing of human beings (WebMD, 2012).

How DNA fingerprinting works

When making DNA fingerprints there are several steps to be done in the laboratory. The isolation of DNA from a given sample is the first step in DNA fingerprinting. The sample can be blood, semen, hair or saliva even in the smallest proportion like a single hair strand or a drop of blood. This sample contains white blood cells that will be broken down DNA removed from them in a mixture of other cellular material. The second step is cutting, sizing and sorting of DNA that has been isolated. The DNA is the cut into small pieces by using special enzymes known as restriction enzymes at specific regions.The third step involves the transferring of the DNA to nylon, the DNA pieces are transferred to nylon sheets by being placing the sheets on a gel and soaking them overnight. The fourth step involves what is known as probing, this is the addition of radioactive or colored probes to the nylon sheet that will produce patterns that are known as DNA fingerprints. The final DNA fingerprint is build by using five to ten probes simultaneously (CliffsNotes.com, 2012).

The uses and applications of DNA fingerprinting

DNA fingerprints are very useful in several areas of the society. They are used by professionals in the health and even the justice system.

Diagnosis of inherited disorders

DNA fingerprints can be used in the diagnosis of disorders that are inheritable in prenatal as well as newborn babies in hospitals all over the world. Some of the disorders that can be diagnosed using DNA fingerprints are cystic fibrosis, hemophilia, Alzheimer's disease, sickle cell anemia among others. The early detection that is made possible by DNA fingerprints will enable the medical staff and the parents of the child to prepare for how the children will be treated. The .information from genetic fingerprints can be used by genetic counselors in helping prospective parents understand risks of having an affected child. Those who intend to be parents can also use information from DNA fingerprints to make decisions that pertain to affected pregnancies (Betsch, 2000).

Developing cures for inherited disorders

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