Some important definitions

• DNA profiling: The identification of variable characteristics at one or more loci in an individual's DNA, and the comparison of those characteristics with other DNA samples to determine whether they could have a common origin.
• Locus: The site on a chromosome where a gene or other feature of the DNA is located. Each gene is presented by two alleles that may be similar (homozygous) or different (heterozygous).

• Variable number tandem repeats (VNTR): A defined region of DNA containing multiple copies of short sequences of bases which are repeated a number of times, the number of repeats varying among individuals in the population.

• Short tandem repeats (STRs): A VNTR in which the repeated sequence is from 1 to 5 base pairs in length.
• Polymerase chain reaction (PCR): The process of copying repeatedly a small piece of DNA until that area is present in larger, more detectable amounts

Category: Forensic Medicine Notes