Which of the following statements about DNA fingerprinting is true?
A) To date, DNA fingerprinting has been used forensically to prove guilt more often than it has been used to prove innocence.
B) DNA fingerprinting cannot be used on skeletons over 50 years old.
C) DNA fingerprinting examines just a small fraction of the genome.
D) All of the above
E) None of the above

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

DNA fingerprinting examines specific regions of the DNA, such as short tandem repeats (STRs) or variable number tandem repeats (VNTRs), which are highly variable and can distinguish individuals. This means that only a small fraction of the genome is examined, but this is enough to provide a unique profile for each individual. Option A is incorrect because DNA fingerprinting has been used both to prove guilt and innocence. Option B is incorrect because DNA can be extracted from ancient specimens, though the quality and quantity of the DNA may be lower.

Which of the Following Statements About DNA Fingerprinting Is True