Recent story about Colin Pitchfork (first person convicted of rape using DNA analysis) got me wondering how this works. How is DNA coded in a way which allows you to match it up with another sample? When you look at it under a microscope or something there aren’t exactly letters and numbers for each part of it.
In: Biology
Some good answers in here.
Modern DNA profiling can be done with endonuclease restriction analysis and electrophoresis or sequencing, but typically in human identification we use Short Tandem Repeat tech.
To ELI5: we use a special magnifying glass (complicated chemistry and lab equipment) to look at differences in DNA that all people have (except twins). What we see is basically an address to one’s body. If you go some place and touch something, you leave cells behind. We can look at the address of those cells and match them to your body, and confirm those cells came from you.
I’m a forensic scientist specializing in DNA in the US. Feel free to ask me anything.
Latest Answers