DNA Profiling Vocabulary

Allele – an alternative form of a gene Chromosomes – nuclear cell structure that contains DNA in humans Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) – the FBI’s computerized criminal DNA database as well as the software used to run these databases; includes the National DNA Index System (NDIS) DNA fingerprint (profile) – pattern of DNA fragments obtained by analyzing a person’s unique sequences of noncoding DNA Electrophoresis – a method of separating molecules, such as DNA, according to size Exon – potion of a gene that is expressed Gene – segment of DNA that codes for a trait

Genome – all the DNA found in human cells Intron – portion of a gene that is not expressed Karyotype – picture of the paired homologous chromosomes and sex chromosomes in a cell Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) – a method of amplifying (duplicating) minute amounts of DNA evidence for use in investigations Polymorphism – region of repeating DNA within an intron that is highly variable from person to person Primer – sequence of DNA added to trigger replication of a specific section of DNA Restriction enzyme – “molecular scissors”; a molecule that cuts a DNA molecule at a specific base sequence

Restrictive fragment – DNA fragment that restriction enzymes create, as in preparation for gel electrophoresis Short tandem repeats (STR) – sequence of repeating bases in noncoding regions of DNA that are used in DNA profiling