DNA profiling
Hereditary material analysis
DNA profiling is the process of analyzing genetic material to identify individuals or establish biological relationships.
Law enforcement uses it to match suspects to crime scene evidence; paternity tests rely on it to confirm parentage.
Also called DNA fingerprinting, though the term is somewhat misleading—unlike actual fingerprints, DNA can reveal family connections and ancestry.
Analyzing DNA variants
- fingerprintingRecording unique digit patterns
- crime sceneLocation of an offense
- evidenceFacts supporting truth
- cold caseUnsolved crime, investigation suspended
identification · suspect · bloodstains · trace evidence · serology · criminalistics · biometrics · investigation
Quality of being permitted
- exonerationOfficial clearing of blame
- chain of custodyDocumented evidence handling sequence
- expert witnessProfessional providing specialized testimony
- probativeTending to demonstrate truth
testimony · courtroom · prosecution · defense · verdict · wrongful conviction · material evidence · trial
Variant forms of genes
- chromosomesGene-bearing nuclear structures
- genesUnits of heredity
- genotypeOrganism's complete allele set
- phenotypeObservable characteristics of organism
haplotype · nucleotide · mitochondrial · PCR · sequencing · loci · markers · polymorphism
Inherited cultural legacy
- genealogyStudy of family descent
- ethnicityShared cultural heritage group
- lineageDescent from progenitors
- paternityMale parent status
maternity · family tree · haplogroup · migration patterns · ethnic origins · kinship · maternal line · paternal line
Recognizing an organism's type
- conservationPreventing waste or loss
- poachingUnlawful wildlife capture
- endangered speciesOrganisms facing extinction risk
- taxonomyScience of categorical arrangement
ecosystem · ivory trade · bushmeat · CITES · flora · fauna · wildlife crime
genotyping
Analyzing DNA variants
- fingerprintingRecording unique digit patterns
- crime sceneLocation of an offense
- evidenceFacts supporting truth
cold case · identification · suspect · bloodstains · trace evidence · serology · criminalistics · biometrics · investigation · detective
admissibility
Quality of being permitted
- exonerationOfficial clearing of blame
- chain of custodyDocumented evidence handling sequence
- expert witnessProfessional providing specialized testimony
probative · testimony · courtroom · prosecution · defense · verdict · wrongful conviction · material evidence · trial · cross-examination
alleles
Variant forms of genes
- chromosomesGene-bearing nuclear structures
- genesUnits of heredity
- genotypeOrganism's complete allele set
phenotype · haplotype · nucleotide · mitochondrial · PCR · sequencing · loci · markers · polymorphism · electrophoresis
heritage
Inherited cultural legacy
- genealogyStudy of family descent
- ethnicityShared cultural heritage group
- lineageDescent from progenitors
paternity · maternity · family tree · haplogroup · migration patterns · ethnic origins · kinship · maternal line · paternal line
species identification
Recognizing an organism's type
- conservationPreventing waste or loss
- poachingUnlawful wildlife capture
- endangered speciesOrganisms facing extinction risk
taxonomy · ecosystem · ivory trade · bushmeat · CITES · flora · fauna · wildlife crime
- DNA Markersmicrosatellites, loci, polymorphisms, alleles, genotyping
- forensicsDNA, DNA analysis, fingerprints, forensics, criminalistics
- biometricsfingerprints, fingerprint scan, iris scan, face recognition, palm print
- Crime Scenecrime scene, evidence marker, evidence bag, evidence bags, crime tape
- DNA AnalysisDNA, DNA testing, DNA sequencing, DNA fingerprinting, DNA evidence
- DNA testsDNA test, paternity test, genetic test, DNA sample, genotyping
DNA profilingeyewitness identification
Recognizing a culprit firsthand
witness testimony · guesswork · intuition · lineup identification · facial recognition
DNA profilingfacial recognition
Automated identification by face
voice recognition · handwriting analysis · psychological profiling · criminal profiling · surveillance footage
DNA profilingeyewitness testimony
Evidence from direct observers
speculation · guesswork · gut feeling · character witness · hearsay
profile, profiles, profiling, profiled, genomics, genomic, profiler