Which of the following terms refers to the analysis of DNA sequences that vary among individuals to identify people?

• A. DNA Sequencing
• B. DNA Profiling
• C. DNA Fingerprinting
• D. Allele Typing

Answer: (C)

DNA fingerprints rely on regions of the genome that vary between individuals. These polymorphic areas, like short tandem repeats, differ in the number of repeats from person to person. By comparing the pattern of these repeats at multiple loci from a sample, scientists can identify individuals with high confidence. This specific approach is called DNA fingerprinting and is widely used in forensics to match DNA from a crime scene to a suspect or to establish identity.

DNA sequencing, by contrast, is about reading the exact sequence of nucleotides, which is not typically the method used for rapid individual identification in everyday forensic work. DNA profiling is a broader label that can include various methods of analyzing DNA patterns, not necessarily the repeat-pattern approach. Allele typing focuses on determining which alleles are present at a single locus, which is just one part of fingerprinting rather than the whole technique.