Modeling How DNA Fingerprints Are Made (KEY)

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✂1) Examine the sequences below and indicate where the Smal enzyme cuts the DNA and how many fragments are
created

A T C A T C C C|G G G A G A G C T A G C C C|G G G A A A T A G G C C C|G G G A T C A T G A T T

T A G T A G G G|C C C T C T C G A T C G G G|C C C T T T A T C C G G G|C C C T A G T A C T A A

How many fragments are created? __4___

A A C A T G A A C A T C C C|G G G A T C A A G G C A G G A A A C C C|G G G A T A G T T A A C C
T T G T A C T T G T A G G G|C C C T A G T T C C G T C C T T T G G G|C C C T A T C A A T T G G

How many fragments are created? __3___

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

2) Why would PCR be necessary for crime scene evidence? not enough DNA
3) The image shows a marker with fragments of known lengths and three samples.
How many fragments were in sample A? __5__
Which sample had the shortest fragment ? _B__

Carefully examine sample C and determine the length of each fragment (bp).
__1000 bp, 600 bp, 500 bp, 250 bp_____

Discuss WHY samples would have fragments of different lengths.

DNA sequence is different for each sample, so the enzyme cuts fragments of different sizes.

4) Would you expect different samples that came from the same person, such as skin cells and blood, to have the same
number and length of fragments? Why or why not?
Samples would have the same fragments, because the DNA would be the same in each.

5) Would samples that were digested with EcoRI have a different pattern than the same sample digested with Smal?
They would have different patterns because each enzyme cuts at different places in the DNA.

Crime Scene Analysis

6) Examine the sample taken from a crime scene, which suspect matches the sample? ___Suspect 2___
7) Explain why some Individual bands of other suspects match the sample

Fragments are about the same size, it doesn’t mean that the DNA is identical. All the bands must match for a positive ID.

8) Which teacher ate the sandwich? ___Mr Trickey_ Would a twin have the same DNA fingerprint? Why or why not?
If the twin was identical, then he may have the same fingerprint. Non-identical (fraternal) twins will not have the same.

9) In most cases, a sample of a person’s DNA can be requested by law enforcement, but a person can refuse. Do you
think a person should be required to submit their DNA? Why or why not?

Answers vary, accept any reasonable statement. (Ex. a person should be required for the greater good and to solve a
crime; a person should not be required because it’s a breach of privacy.)

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Who’s the Father?

10) Who is the father of the baby? __Dad 2_________

Explain why the father’s DNA fingerprint has bands not found on the baby’s fingerprint.

The baby inherited that section of DNA from the mother.

Discussion and Synthesis

11) The following image shows the steps in

creating a DNA fingerprint. Match the number to
the description:

_2__ PCR amplification

_1__DNA extracted from tissue.
_4__DNA fragments move across the gel
_3__DNA sample loaded into wells
_6__DNA stained with fluorescent dye
_4__Electricity applied to gel

12) Explain why larger bans are closer to the wells

where the sample was loaded?

The large bands do not move as quickly as the smaller bands.

13) DIscuss how DNA fingerprinting can be used?

DNA fingerprinting can be used to solve crimes by matching suspect DNA to crime scene evidence. It can also be used
in paternity tests.

14) Describe some limitations of DNA fingerprinting.

Answers vary. Examples: To solve a crime, DNA must be found at the scene and that DNA has to match someone who
is a suspect. If there are no suspects, or no DNA, then the procedure is useless.

Teacher’s Notes:

I usually do this activity after students have learned the basics of DNA, so they understand the base pair rule. Knowledge
of enzymes is not necessary. I also show them this interactive on creating a DNA fingerprint that goes into more details
on the procedure.

Create a DNA Fingerprint by PBS NOVA

Name: _________________________________________ Date: _____________

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Modeling How DNA Fingerprints Are Made

🧬You have probably seen crime dramas where police have a sample of a person’s DNA and
can use it to identify the criminal. The process of DNA analysis has multiple steps, but in all
techniques, the DNA must be cut into small pieces using restriction enzymes.

Restriction enzymes were isolated from bacteria and are used by the bacteria to cut DNA of
invading viruses. Restriction enzymes cut DNA at specific places, called recognition sites. We
have isolated over 3000 restriction enzymes, and identified where they cut DNA. They are
named after the bacteria they came from, EcoRI was isolated for the E. coli bacteria.

The EcoRI enzyme cuts DNA at the following site: The Smal enzyme cuts at a different site.

Because DNA differs for individuals, adding a restriction enzyme to a sample can create multiple cuts that are
unique to each sample.

✂1) Examine the sequences below and indicate where the Smal enzyme cuts the DNA and how many
fragments are created

ATCATCCCGGGAGAGCTAGCCCGGGAAATAGGCCCGGGATCATGATT
TAGTAGGGCCCTCTCGATCGGGCCCTTTATCCGGGCCCTAGTACTAA

How many fragments are created? _____

AACATGAACATCCCGGGATCAAGGCAGGAAACCCGGGATAGTTAACC
TTGTACTTGTAGGGCCCTAGTTCCGTCCTTTGGGCCCTATCAATTGG

How many fragments are created? _____

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

Each digested sample creates a different number of fragments at different lengths. Because the
fragments might come from a small original sample, like blood or hair, scientists amplify the
fragments with a technique called PCR, or polymerase chain reaction. This will make multiple
copies of the fragments that will be used in the next step. The sample is then loaded into a
micropipette and transferred to a gel plate.

2) Why would PCR be necessary for crime scene evidence?

____________________________

⚡Gel Electrophoresis
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The next step is to place the fragments onto a gel and then apply a current. The fragments will move through
the gel, but smaller fragments will move farther in the gel. DNA has a negative charge, so it will move toward
the positive end of the fragment when electricity is applied.
Once the fragments have been separated, the gel is stained so that the DNA bands will be visible under a UV
light. The bands will look like a barcode. A marker can also be used to indicate how long each fragment is.

3) The image shows a marker with fragments of

known lengths and three samples.

How many fragments were in sample A? _____

Which sample had the shortest fragment? ____

Carefully examine sample C and determine the length

of each fragment (bp).

_________________________________________

Discuss WHY samples would have fragments of

different lengths.

4) Would you expect different samples that came from the same person, such as skin cells and blood, to have
the same number and length of fragments? Why or why not?

5) Would samples that were digested with EcoRI have a

different pattern than the same sample digested with Smal?
Explain your answer.

Crime Scene Analysis

🩸When investigators find body fluids from a suspect, they use
the same techniques to cut the DNA into fragments, load

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them into the gel, and compare them with known suspects. If DNA is a match, then the number and the length
of the fragments should line up.

6) Examine the sample taken from a crime scene, which suspect matches the sample? _______

7) Explain why some Individual bands of other suspects match the sample

🥪A crime was committed in the teacher’s workroom. Mr.

DePew’s sandwich was discovered half-eaten. Biology
students were able to isolate saliva on the sandwich that
could match the person who ate half the sandwich. Cameras
show that three other teachers entered the workroom at the
time the crime was committed. The teachers agreed to
provide a sample of their DNA to prove their innocence.

8) Which teacher ate the sandwich? __________________

The teacher swears that he didn’t touch the sandwich and that
his twin must have done it. Would a twin have the same DNA
fingerprint? Why or why not?

9) In most cases, a sample of a person’s DNA can be requested by law enforcement, but a person can refuse.
Do you think a person should be required to submit their DNA? Why or why not?

Who’s the Father?

Paternity tests use the same technology, but with one small
difference. A child’s DNA will contain matching sequences from the
mother and the father. To determine the father, you must first
identify fragments that match the mother.

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On the diagram, color (or shade) and fragment that matches mother’s DNA. Any other fragments must then
match the father. Color the father’s DNA a different color.

10) Who is the father of the baby? ________________

Explain why the father’s DNA fingerprint has bands not found on the baby’s fingerprint.

Discussion and Synthesis

11) The following image shows the steps in

creating a DNA fingerprint. Match the
number to the description:

___ PCR amplification

___DNA extracted from tissue.
___DNA fragments move across the gel
___DNA sample loaded into wells
___DNA stained with fluorescent dye
___Electricity applied to gel

12) Explain why larger bands are closer to the wells where the sample was loaded?

13) Discuss how DNA fingerprinting can be used?

14) Describe some limitations of DNA fingerprinting.

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