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Article: DNA Fingerprinting
- Article from:
- Encyclopedia of Espionage, Intelligence, andSecurity
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 The Gale Group Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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DNA Fingerprinting
DNA fingerprinting is the term applied to a range of techniques that are used to show similarities and dissimilarities between the DNA present in different individuals.
DNA fingerprinting is an important tool in the arsenal of forensic investigators and intelligence officers. In an era when plastic surgery can be used to alter a terrorist's appearance, DNA fingerprinting allows for positive identification not only of body remains, but also of suspects in custody. DNA fingerprinting can also link physical evidence from incidents that occur in different parts of the world.
Sir Alec Jeffreys at the University of Leicester developed DNA fingerprinting in the mid ...