Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
REGION II – CAGAYAN VALLEY
SCHOOLS DIVISION OF THE CITY OF ILAGAN
ISABELA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
SAN VICENTE, CITY OF ILAGAN, ISABELA

Name:__________________________________________ Date:________________________

Grade Level & Section:_____________________________ Score:_______________________

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET

4th QUARTER
LESSON 3: DNA PROFILING
BIOTECHNOLOGY GRADE 8- STE
Week 5-Week 6

INTRODUCTION:

DNA is often described as being like a blueprint for your body – it contains the code that allows
you to build all the various molecules that your body needs to function. Slight changes in this code are
responsible to a greater or lesser extent for such diverse features as your susceptibility to a certain
disease or the shape of your face.

In forensic science, the main day-to-day use of DNA is as an identification technique where
we aim to match a DNA sample found at, for example, a crime scene, to a specific individual. Rather
than sequencing all of the ~6 billion bases of DNA that comprise your genome, we instead look at a
few very short segments of DNA that have been chosen because they are highly variable between
different people. These segments of DNA do not code for any of those molecules we said your body
needs to function, and instead can be simplistically considered as ‘filler DNA’ between the more
important parts.

The segments of DNA we look at are called short tandem repeats (STRs). These are short DNA
motifs (typically four base pairs long) that are repeated multiple times in tandem (ie next to each
other). An example of a DNA motif could be AGAC, and this could be repeated four times such that
the full DNA sequence is AGACAGACAGACAGAC. The number of repeats can vary such that it could be
four repeats, five repeats, six repeats etc and it is this variation that is vital in allowing us to distinguish
different people.

In your cells, you have two copies of your DNA, one from your mother and one from your
father. Additionally, your DNA from each parent is packaged into 23 different parts instead of being
one long DNA strand (these are your chromosomes), and so in total, you have 46 chromosomes in
your cells arranged into 23 pairs.
 For DNA profiling, we look at a selection of different STR markers that are located at various
places on these chromosomes. For example, one marker analysed is called D12S391 which is found on
chromosome 12 – every person will have two copies of this STR marker (one from each parent) and
from one parent they could have received a copy with, say, 12 repeats while from the other parent
they received a copy with 15 repeats, so the genotype at this marker would be 12,15. The combination
of these numbers (genotypes) at multiple different STR markers is what constitutes a DNA profile.

GENERAL OBJECTIVES/ LEARNING COMPETENCIES:

 Described about DNA profiling.

LESSON PROPER:

Synonyms: DNA testing, DNA typing and genetic fingerprinting.

 The process of DNA fingerprinting was developed by Professor Alec Jeffrey’s at Leicester
University in 1984 as a form of genetic analysis.
 it was first used in the law courts of England in 1987 to convict a man in a rape case. It has
now been used successfully in many crime and paternity cases worldwide.
 Although 99.9 % of human DNA sequences are the same in every person, enough of the
DNA is different to distinguish one individual from another, unless they are monozygotic
twins.
 DNA profiling uses repetitive sequences that are highly variable, called variable number
tandem repeats (VNTRs), particularly short tandem repeats (STRs). VNTR loci are very
similar between closely related humans.
 The analysis of variable number of tandem repeats (VNTRs), to detect the degree of
relatedness to another sequence of oligonucleotides, making them ideal for DNA
fingerprinting.

BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES USED FOR DNA FINGERPRINTING

 Blood, saliva, semen, body tissue cells, DNA samples have been obtained from vaginal cells
transferred to the outside of a condom during sexual intercourse.

VARIABLE NUMBER TANDEM REPEATS

 A Variable Number Tandem Repeat (or VNTR) is a location in a genome where a short
nucleotide sequence is organized as a tandem repeat.
 These can be found on many chromosomes, and often show variations in length between
individuals.
 Each variant acts as an inherited allele, following them to be used for personal or parental
identification.
 There are two principal families of VNTRs: microsatellites and minisatellites.
 Microsatellites, also known as Simple Sequence Repeats (SSRs) or short tandem repeats
(STRs), are repeating sequences of 2-6 base pairs of DNA.
 A minisatellites (also referred as VNTR) is a section of DNA that consists of a short series of
bases 10-60 base pairs.
 Their analysis is useful in genetics and biology research, forensics, and DNA fingerprinting.

DNA PROFILING PROCESS

 The process begins with a sample of an individual’s DNA (typically called a “reference
sample”).

Address: Claravall St., San Vicente, City of Ilagan, Isabela

Telephone No.: (078) 323-1702
Email Address: [email protected]
  The most desirable method of collecting a reference sample is the use of a buccal swab, as
this reduces the possiblity of contamination.
 When this is not available may need to be used to collect a sample of blood, saliva, semen, or
other appropriate fluid or tissue from personal items (e.g. toothbrush, razor, etc.) or from
stored samples (e.g. banked sperm or biopsy tissue).

PROCEDURE:

1. Isolation of DNA
- DNA must be recovered from the cells or tissues of the body.
- Only a small amount of tissue, like blood, hair, or skin is needed.
- For example, the amount of DNA found at the root of one hair is usually sufficient.
2. Cutting, Sizing and Sorting
- Special enzymes called restriction enzymes are used to cut the DNA at specific sites.
- For example, an enzyme called EcoRI, found in bacteria.
- The DNA pieces are sorted according to size by a sieving technique called electrophoresis.
- The DNA pieces are passed through a gel agarose. This technique is the DNA equivalent of
screening sand through progressively finer mesh screens to determine particle sizes.
3. Transfer of DNA to Nylon
- The distribution of DNA pieces is transferred to a Nylon sheet by placing the sheet on the
gel and soaking them overnight.
4. Probing
- Adding radioactive or colored probes to the nylon sheet produces a pattern called the
DNA fingerprint.
- Each probe typically sticks in only one or two specific places on the nylon sheets.
5. DNA fingerprinting
- The final DNA fingerprint is built by using several probes (5-10 or more) simultaneously. It
resembles the bar codes used by grocery store scanners.

Steps in DNA Fingerprinting Technique

Address: Claravall St., San Vicente, City of Ilagan, Isabela

Telephone No.: (078) 323-1702
Email Address: [email protected]
APPLICATIONS:

1. Diagnosis and developing cures for inherited disorders:

- DNA fingerprinting is used to diagnose inherited disorders in both prenatal and newborn
babies in hospitals around the world.
- These disorders may include cystic fibrosis, hemophilia, Huntington’s disease, familial
Alzheimer’s, sickle cell anemia, thalassemia and many others.
- Early detection of such disorders enables the medical staff to prepare themselves and the
parents for proper treatment of the child.
- In some programs, genetic counselors use DNA fingerprint information to help
prospective parents.
- In other programs, prospective parents use DNA fingerprint information in their decisions
concerning affected pregnancies.
2. Biological Evidence to Identify Criminals
- Where fingerprints are not available but biological specimens are available like blood or
semen stains, hair or items of clothing to be valuable sources of DNA of the criminal.
- Since the year 1987, innumerable cases have been solved with the help of DNA fingerprint
evidence.
3. Paternity disputes
- Another important use of DNA fingerprint in the court system is to establish paternity in
custody and child support litigation. In these applications, DNA fingerprints bring an
unprecedented, nearly perfect accuracy to the determination.
4. Personal Identification
- DNA maybe the best way to identify a person as all body tissues and organs contain the
same DNA type. The specimen required also is very small. In fact, the US army has been
doing DNA fingerprinting of all its soldiers and has a huge database.
REFERENCES:

 https://www.sciencedirect.com DNA Profiling

 https://www.britannica.com DNA Fingerprinting

ACTIVITY 1

SITUATION 1:

 A violent murder occurred. The forensic team retrieved a blood sample from the crime scene.
They prepared DNA profiles of the blood sample, the victim and the suspect as follows:

Question : Was the suspect at the crime scene? Why or why not?

__________________________________________________________________________

Address: Claravall St., San Vicente, City of Ilagan, Isabela

Telephone No.: (078) 323-1702
Email Address: [email protected]
 __________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

SITUATION 2:

 By comparing the DNA profile of a mother and her child. Identify DNA fragments in the child
which are absent from the mother and must therefore have been inherited from the biological
father.

Question: Is this man the father of the child? Why or why not?

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

ACTIVITY 2

Choose the letter of your choice.

1. DNA fingerprinting was developed by

a. Watson and Crick c. Alec Jeffrey
b. Yamanaka d. Paul Berg
2. DNA fingerprinting relies on identifying sepcific
a. Coding sequences
b. Non-coding sequences
c. Both a and b
d. Promoters
3. The technique to distinguish the individuals based on their DNA print patterns is called
a. DNA fingerprinting c. Molecular fingerprinting
b. DNA profiling d. All of the above
4. DNA fingerprinting relies on
a. Difference in patterns of genes between individuals.
b. Difference in order of genes between individuals.
c. Difference in junk DNA patterns between individuals.
d. All of these
5. DNA profiling is used
a. In forensic studies and in cases of disputed parentage.
b. In pedigree analysis and to study migration pattern.
c. To confirm cell line identity.
d. All of these.

Address: Claravall St., San Vicente, City of Ilagan, Isabela

Telephone No.: (078) 323-1702
Email Address: [email protected]
 ACTIVITY 3
DNA FINGERPRINTING

Prepared by: Checked by:

CRISTINA D. ANGANGAN JERRYLIN Q.DAFUN

Teacher II, Subject Teacher HTV-Science

Noted by:

SILVINO B. CABANGAN
Secondary School Principal IV

NOTE: Practice Personal Hygiene Protocol at all times.

Address: Claravall St., San Vicente, City of Ilagan, Isabela

Telephone No.: (078) 323-1702
Email Address: [email protected]
Address: Claravall St., San Vicente, City of Ilagan, Isabela
Telephone No.: (078) 323-1702
Email Address: [email protected]
Address: Claravall St., San Vicente, City of Ilagan, Isabela
Telephone No.: (078) 323-1702
Email Address: [email protected]