By:

Bentley Hammet, Carly Warfield, Wynn Smythe

Definition of DNA Probe

• A molecule labeled with a radioactive isotope, dye, or enzyme that is used to locate a particular sequence of DNA base pairs

• Also called DNA profiling

What is it made of?

• A DNA probe is made up of a synthetic sequence of DNA bases that is complementary to a small portion of the DNA strand.

• Anywhere that the complementary sequence is found on the DNA, the probe will bind to complementary bases.

What does it do?

• DNA probes are used to identify the unique sequences in each person’s DNA

• Most of the human DNA is it establishes feet, hands and legs…etc.

• DNA probing helps to separate the unique DNA of a certain person

How does it work?

• Once a blot,the specific DNA that has been seperated, has been placed on a block of gel--the probe of synthetic DNA placed on the blot of real DNA

• The probe will attach itself to the “polymorphic” (the DNA specific to that person) and all other DNA is washed away

• From this a DNA fingerprint can be found

When is it used?

• It is used to identify specific people through their small fragments of specific DNA.

• DNA probing is often times used to help solve crimes, the DNA probing helps to advance and identify suspect DNA

• DNA Probe