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DNA Typing- A Method to Identify Criminals

Sumalatha Avvaru

DNA typing is also called DNA fingerprinting. It is a forensic technique mainly used to identify the characteristics of individual’s genome called DNA. DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) represents the blueprint of the human genetic makeup. It exists in virtually every cell of the human body and differs in its sequence of nucleotides (molecules that make up DNA, also abbreviated as adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G), and cytosine (C). It is called as "fingerprint" because any two people do not have exactly the same DNA and same physical fingerprint. The human genome is made up of 3 billion nucleotides, which are 99.9% identical from one person to another person. The 0.1% variation, therefore, can be used to distinguish one individual from another. It was first developed and used in 1985. The modern process of DNA profiling was developed in 1988. It is used for parentage testing and criminal investigation, to identify a person or to place a person at a crime scene to facilitate police detective work and help clarify paternity and immigration disputes. DNA fingerprinting has also been widely used in the study of animal populations and has revolutionized the field of zoology.