The 0.1% of DNA that makes you unique

DNA Fingerprinting | Genetics | Biology | FuseSchool · 4:09 · Video: FuseSchool - Global Education · Watch at the source

In short: While humans share nearly all of their genetic code, a tiny fraction defines our individuality. This video explains how scientists isolate those specific differences to identify people with near-certainty.

Developed by geneticist Alec Jeffreys in 1985, DNA fingerprinting (now known as DNA profiling) allows for the comparison of genetic samples to find unique markers. Because any two people on Earth share approximately 99.9% of their DNA, the technique focuses exclusively on the remaining 0.1% of variation.

This technology serves as a cornerstone for forensic science and biology. It is primarily used to solve crimes by matching samples to suspects and to establish biological relationships, such as in paternity testing.

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