ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Genetic fingerprinting

Genetic fingerprinting is like a special code that can identify a person. Just like how you have a name that is unique to you, your genetic fingerprint is also unique to you.

Now, imagine you have 10 friends and you all have different names. If you line up your friends and ask them to write their names, you can easily tell who wrote which name because they are all different. Genetic fingerprinting works in a similar way – it helps to identify a person by their unique genetic code.

A person’s genetic code is made up of their DNA. This code is like a book of instructions that tells your body how to grow, develop, and function. Scientists can take a small sample of DNA, like a drop of blood or a strand of hair, and analyze it to create a genetic fingerprint.

To do this, scientists look for specific regions in the DNA that are unique to each person. These regions are called “markers” and they act like signposts that lead to a person’s identity. Scientists can then use these markers to create a unique pattern, or fingerprint, that is specific to each person.

This genetic fingerprinting can be used for many things, like solving crimes or testing family relationships. Just like how the police can match fingerprints found at a crime scene to a suspect, genetic fingerprinting can help match DNA found at a crime scene to a suspect’s DNA.

In summary, genetic fingerprinting is like a special code that scientists can use to identify a person based on their DNA. It’s kind of like a book of instructions that tells your body how to grow, develop, and function. Scientists use this code to create a unique pattern that is specific to each person, which can be used to solve crimes or test family relationships.