DNA Profile | DNA Testing Glossary

A DNA profile is the unique set of alleles identified at each tested genetic marker for a specific individual. It is essentially a person's genetic fingerprint for identification purposes. In relationship testing, the laboratory generates a DNA profile for each participant by analyzing their STR loci and recording which alleles are present at each location. These profiles are then compared side by side. The chance of two unrelated people having identical profiles across 20 or more loci is vanishingly small, so DNA profiles provide a reliable basis for confirming or excluding biological relationships. A DNA profile used in relationship testing does not reveal medical information, disease risk, or ancestry — it is strictly an identification tool.

Related Terms

Allele, Locus, Genetic Marker, STR (Short Tandem Repeat), Electropherogram

Source

National Human Genome Research Institute — DNA Fingerprinting