Reliability of Restriction Enzyme Digestions of Genomic DNA for the Generation of DNA Fingerprints

Abstract

Since minisatellite DNA probes are used for the detection of hypervariable loci in eucaryotic genomes [1] the application of so called DNA fingerprints and DNA technology itself in paternity testing and forensic casework is critically discussed ([3]; Brinkmann et al., this volume). A particular problem is the possibility of obtaining partially digested genomic DNA in casework after treatment with restriction enzymes leading to inconclusive or even false results. This is even more important when multilocus DNA probes are used, since the total number of fragments in a given person is not known in advance. But also with single locus probes, where only two allelic fragments are usually detected, a fragment shift of additional bands may be produced by partially digested DNA.