DNA fingerprinting: Similarities or dissimilarities in your DNA?

Abstract

Every individual, with the exception of identical twins, possesses a distinctive genetic signature that can be visualized through recombinant DNA techniques. In the DNA of every individual, there exists approximately 0.1% variation, while 99.9% similarity is shared among all individuals. Despite this, the DNA sequence resembles a fingerprint, uniquely identifying each person. It is a revolutionary technique, unveils individual genetic profiles using specific DNA markers. DNA fingerprinting is a technique used to identify and analyse unique patterns within an individual's DNA or to identify the individual by characteristics of their DNA which was introduced by Alec Jeffrey in 1985. The current standard methods in DNA profiling involve both PCR and non-PCR based methods. DNA fingerprinting or profiling find extensive applications in forensic analysis and paternity testing. Beyond law enforcement, DNA fingerprinting permeates medical diagnostics, facilitating disease identification, and tracking hereditary traits. In agriculture, it shapes breeding programs by Analyzing plant and animal lineages. This versatile tool's precision and broad utility underscore its pivotal role in understanding genetic diversity, individual identity and number of biological applications. Therefore, DNA fingerprinting has got considerable attention as a promising method to rapidly evaluate the degree of genetic diversity in both human and animal genetics.