Forensic Files

     DNA profiling or "fingerprinting" has been used in many situations to discover the true identities of different organisms. the main field of work that DNA profiling is used in is law enforcement. Scientists working with the police can solve various crimes by analyzing DNA and matching it with other samples. Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism also known as RFLP was first introduced by Alec Jeffries, a geneticist,  in 1985. RFLP creates a binding pattern based on the restriction sites in a person's DNA makeup. Today, we use polymerase chain reaction or PCR amplification to conduct DNA profiling which is a much quicker process.

     A very important natural tool that scientists use for DNA profiling are Restriction Enzymes. Restriction Enzymes act like molecular scissors which cuts out and destroys DNA from invading viruses or phages. Reaction Enzymes first recognize the specific DNA sequences in phages or viruses and then cut the DNA at that site.

     
     Agarose Gel creates groups of DNA which are separated by their size. DNA pieces are put into slabs of agarose gel  which is then placed in a buffer solution. A current is sent through the agarose slab which causes the negatively charged DNA fragments to move toward the positive pole or anode. Inside the agarose gel slab, smaller DNA fragments can move more freely than larger ones, therefor smaller DNA fragments can travel further than large fragments.