Development Year: 1985
Inventor: Alec Jeffreys
Description: Also called DNA fingerprinting and genetic fingerprinting, DNA profiling is the process of determining an individual’s deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) characteristics.
It is a forensic technique in criminal investigations, comparing criminal suspects’ profiles to DNA evidence so as to assess the likelihood of their involvement in the crime. It is also used in paternity testing, to establish immigration eligibility, and in genealogical and medical research. DNA profiling has also been used in the study of animal and plant populations in the fields of zoology, botany, and agriculture.
Functionality: DNA is collected and extracted and copied from cells or bodily fluids. After this we need to find the size of the STRs (Short tandem repeats) which is determined using a genetic analyzer. The genetic analyzer separates the copied DNA by gel electrophoresis and can detect the fluorescent dye on each STR. This is now a DNA profile, which we can use to check against other profiles for a match.
Source: https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/1980-dna-profiling#:~:text=DNA%20profiling%20is%20the%20process,These%20regions%20are%20called%20polymorphic.