When the police collect and analyze DNA evidence from a crime scene, the analysis produces what is known as a ¨genetic fingerprint.¨ Explain why it is so called, and distinguish it from regular fingerprints.
2006-12-09 06:57:08 · 2 answers · asked by Marcelo S 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
The word 'fingerprint' is used only as a way of explaining DNA to laypeople. People know what a 'fingerprint' is, and that it is unique for every person ... so we refer to 'genetic fingerprint' only to draw the analogy that every person also has a unique genetic makeup.
Your 'genetic fingerprint' is the unique set of genes in the DNA in every cell in your body. No other person on the planet has that unique set of genes (unless you are an identical twin).
Your 'fingerprint' is the unique pattern in the skin on the tips of your fingers. It is *partly* determined by your genetics (your DNA), but also by subtle changes that occurred in the environment of your mother's womb at the time your fingers were developing. That is why identical twins have the same DNA, but different fingerprints.
2006-12-09 08:46:46 · answer #1 · answered by secretsauce 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
genetic finger print is just a term to mean that it is genetic material that can be traced specific to a person. a fingerprint is just the shape of the lines on the finger left on something
2006-12-09 07:01:08 · answer #2 · answered by randini692000 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋