How is DNA fingerprinting used in forensics?

One of the major applications of DNA fingerprinting is its use in forensics. A criminal investigation involves interviews, interrogations, and searching to determine how an incident occurred. DNA is acquired from the scene of the crime, and the DNA is compared to the DNA of suspects. DNA samples such as blood, saliva, semen, hair, and other tissues can be collected from suspects of a criminal investigation.

Since DNA is unique to a person, this can be used to find criminals of a crime. If the DNA at the crime site is similar to that of any suspects, further interrogations will be done, and even if the DNA samples from the crime scene and that of the suspect does not match, it will help the investigators to know the line of action.

While there are a few different situations which can use DNA fingerprinting, it is primarily used for forensic purposes. If you have every watched a television show where detectives swab the inside of a suspected criminal cheek, then you have seen someone preparing to have their DNA fingerprint analyzed.

The DNA fingerprint can be found from a variety of things including hair follicles, blood, saliva, those cheek swabs used to collect cells and even your sweat. This is then analyzed and compared to the DNA evidence which was found at the crime scene. Everyone has a unique DNA fingerprint so if they match then it proves that the suspect was at least at the crime scene.