DNA Fingerprinting: Genome variability

[chapsticks]

How much variability exists between the genomes of separate individuals? What is an SNP?

 

[atyy]

An SNP is a single-nucleotide polymorphism. DNA is a sequence of nucleotides, and an SNP is a variation in the population at a particular nucleotide in that sequence. The extent of variability is not fully known.
http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/faq/snps.shtml
http://snp.cshl.org/

 

[bobze]

Homework question?

 

[Super Mario]

DNA fingerprinting is generally done with STRP short tandem repeat polymorphisms.
I imagine SNPs would be used to determine differences in certain alleles.

From wiki: "The nucleotide diversity between humans is about 0.1%"

Our genome is ~3 billion basepairs, 0.1% of 3 billion is 3 000 000. SO between any 2 people there is said to be ~3 million nucleotide differences!

 

[LudusRex]

DNA fingerprinting is a powerful tool used in forensic science to identify individuals based on unique patterns in their DNA. The degree of variability between the genomes of separate individuals is dependent on a number of factors, such as the individual's genetic background, environmental influences, and random genetic mutations. However, on average, the genomes of two unrelated individuals are estimated to differ by about 0.1%.

An SNP, or single nucleotide polymorphism, is a common type of genetic variation in which a single nucleotide (A, T, C, or G) in the DNA sequence is changed. These variations can occur naturally and are responsible for the diversity we see among individuals. SNPs can also be used as markers in DNA fingerprinting to identify and compare genetic differences between individuals.