APPLICATIONS
Applications for DNA fingerprinting are as follows-
- Diagonsis of Inherited Disorders
- Developing cure for Inherited disorders
- Biological Evidence
- Personal Identification
- Paternity test
- Molecular Archeology
- Agianst Sports Collectibles
- Research
1. DIAGNOSIS OF INHERITED DISORDERS-
SICKLE CELL ANEMIA
- DNA fingerprinting is used to diagnose inherited disorders in both prenatal and newborn babies in hospitals around the world.
- These disorders may include cystic fibrosis, hemophilia, Huntington's disease, familial Alzheimer's, sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, and many others.
- Early detection of such disorders enables the medical staff to prepare themselves and the parents for proper treatment of the child.
- In some programs, genetic counselors use DNA fingerprint information to help prospective parents understand the risk of having an affected child. In other programs, prospective parents use DNA fingerprint information in their decisions concerning affected pregnancies. [22] & [43]
2. DEVELOPING CURE FOR INHERITED DISORDERS-
- Research programs to locate inherited disorders on the chromosomes depend on the information contained in DNA fingerprints.
- By studying the DNA fingerprints of relatives who have a history of some particular disorder, or by comparing large groups of people with and without the disorder, it is possible to identify DNA patterns associated with the disease in question.
- This work is a necessary first step in designing an eventual genetic cure for these disorders. [22] & [44]
3. BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE-
- FBI and police labs around the U.S. have begun to use DNA fingerprints to link suspects to biological evidence - blood or semen stains, hair, or items of clothing - found at the scene of a crime.
- Since 1987, hundreds of cases have been decided with the assistance of DNA fingerprint evidence. [9]
- Detectives only had to match the DNA of the semen, blood, hair etc.. found at the scene of the crime with the DNA of any potential suspect to determine who was guilty of comitted the crime. [22]
4. PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION-
HUMAN GENOME PROJECT
- Because every organ or tissue of an individual contains the same DNA fingerprint, the U.S. armed services have just begun a program to collect DNA fingerprints from all personnel for use later, in case they are needed to identify casualties or persons missing in action.
- The DNA method will be far superior to the dogtags, dental records, and blood typing strategies currently in use. [22]
|
|
5. PATERNITY TEST-
- This is also a well known use for DNA fingerprinting.
- This is the test used to find out who is the father of a baby or children.
- Every individual has a VNTR pattern which is inherited from their parents.
- The pattern in every individual is different but it is similar enough to reconstruct the parents VNTR.
- This can also be used to determine the real biological parents of an adopted child. This test can also be used to determine legal nationality.
- An individual should be careful when using a test like this because it can cause surprise and that may hurt some individuals. [42]
MOLECULAR ARCHAEOLOGY
|
|
7. AGAINST SPORTS COLLECTIBLES-
- DNA fingerprinting is even used in the world of sports collectibles. With sports collectors spending gigantic amounts of money to own a piece of sports history, there needed to be a way to validate the authenticity of the rare memorabilia.
- The memorabilia can be treated with a synthetic DNA smear, in which the item is coated with a secret DNA sequence where the original batch of DNA is then destroyed.
- The collectible can Then be auctioned off giving the buyers assurance that the product is indeed authentic.
- This is just an another instance of how DNA fingerprinting can be used in todays world. [42]
8. RESEARCH-
1. Mapping
|
2. BREEDING-
|
3. TRANSGENICS-
Before transgenic plants or animals can be developed, the DNA code necessary for the desired trait must be known and identified. Gene mapping, described earlier, is a method to identify the genes responsible for specific traits. [43]
|