DNAprofiilin

DNAprofiilin, or DNA profile in English, is a compact genetic fingerprint that represents an individual’s variation at a defined set of DNA markers. It does not encode the entire genome; rather it records a standardized panel of loci that are highly polymorphic, allowing discrimination between individuals with a very low chance of a coincidental match. In forensic science the most common markers are short tandem repeats (STRs), sometimes supplemented by markers that indicate biological sex.

Generation and analysis involve several steps. A biological sample is collected and DNA is extracted and quantified. The DNA is then amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to generate readable fragments for each marker. The fragments are separated by size, typically with capillary electrophoresis, and software assigns alleles at each locus. The resulting profile is compared to reference profiles; a match is reported with a statistical assessment such as a random-match probability or likelihood ratio, depending on local practice and legal framework.

Applications of DNA profiling include criminal investigations, paternity and kinship testing, disaster victim identification, missing-person cases, and immigration or ancestry research. DNA profiles may be stored in national or international databases, such as CODIS in the United States or equivalent systems elsewhere, subject to legal and ethical guidelines.

Limitations and privacy considerations are important. A DNA profile is informative but does not reveal sensitive health information, yet its use can raise privacy, consent, and discrimination concerns. Practical limits include degraded samples, mixed DNA, and laboratory errors, which can affect interpretability and the strength of conclusions.