What drivel - one's DNA IS unique! (unless one is an identical
twin/triplet etc)
What is not unique however is the configuration of DNA chunks that make up
one's DNA fingerprint. A DNA fingerprint is formed when enzymes are used to
cut someone's DNA sequence in a very specific way.
The fingerprint is a one dimensional graph of the number of DNA chunks
versus size of chunk. The darkness is the amount of stuff and the location
along the fingerprint relates to size. It is possible to share a DNA
fingerprint with someone else even though the content of your DNA can be
different.
For example, if you had a DNA sequence that went AATTCCGG and another that
went CATGTCGA and used enzymes that cut between A/T andC/G each one would
result in two two-letter chunks and a four letter chunk but patently the
original sequences are different.
Thankfully the chances of having the same DNA fingerprint are about 37
million to one.
Matthew
Matthew Stephenson
Records Manager
Room H616
London School of Economics
Houghton Street
London WC2A 2AE
Tel: 020 7955 6481
Fax: 020 7404 5510
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [log in to unmask] [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Wednesday, November 15, 2000 4:07 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Cc: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Fingerprints
>
> In a message dated 15/11/2000 12:54:59 GMT Standard Time,
> [log in to unmask] writes:
>
> << I would have thought that fingerprints were a very unique identifier.
> >>
> --------
> I have news for you - because the whole fingerprint is not compared
> (police
> in different countries use a variety of numbers of "match points") the
> recorded details of your fingerprints are not unique.
>
> And get this - nor is your DNA.
>
> Ian B
> MD
> Keep IT Legal Ltd
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