Forensic scientists can match missing persons and their families by matching maternal DNA to the missing individual. Which type of DNA technology is used for this purpose?

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Biology

Catalina Haley

6 June, 07:02

Forensic scientists can match missing persons and their families by matching maternal DNA to the missing individual. Which type of DNA technology is used for this purpose?

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Stokes · Answer 1

mtDNA analysis is the best DNA technology to use. In DNA fingerprinting scientists run a gel electrophoresis of the subject's DNA in order to establish the banding patterns of the DNA fragments. People will always share half of their DNA with a parent. SO half of an individual's banding pattern will match half of their parent's DNA banding pattern. If someone is missing is found then scientists can compare the DNA fingerprint or banding patterns to see what the likelihood is of them being related.