DNA Polymorphism and Its Modern Applications

DNA polymorphism plays a crucial role in forensics and medicine, offering valuable insights into genetic variation and individual identification.
 

What is DNA Polymorphism?
 

1. It refers to genetic variations in specific DNA segments or genes among individuals.
2. These variations help in differentiating individuals at a molecular level.
    

Techniques Used to Detect DNA Polymorphism
 

1. Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) – Analyzes differences in DNA fragment patterns after enzyme digestion.
2. Variable Number of Tandem Repeats (VNTR) Polymorphism – Identifies genetic variations based on repeating sequences of DNA.
    

Short Tandem Repeats (STRs) and DNA Profiling
 

1. DNA profiling relies on polymorphic regions known as Short Tandem Repeats (STRs).
2. STRs consist of short, repeated sequences of base pairs in DNA, which vary in number from person to person, making them ideal for identification purposes.
    

Applications of DNA Polymorphism
 

1. Molecular and Personalized Medicine – Helps in genetic disease identification and targeted therapies.
2. Forensic DNA Analysis – Used in crime investigations for suspect identification.
3. DNA Linkage Analysis – Assists in tracing hereditary diseases and ancestry studies.
4. Human Identification – Differentiates individuals based on genetic markers.