DNA fingerprinting is the overall term applied to a range of techniques that are used to show similarities or dissimilarites between the DNA present in different individuals of the same or different species.

The DNA fingerprinting technique was pioneered by Alec Jeffreys in 1985. By looking at small samples of bodily tissues, a pattern can be produced by digesting the DNA using a series of enzymes known as restriction enzymes, or restriction endonucleases. This digested material is then placed on a sheet of agarose gel, and the fragments are separated by passing an electric current across the gel. Different enzymes produce different banding patterns and normally several enzymes are used in conjunction to produce a high definition digestion. Because these digestions of DNA are particular to an individual they are known as DNA fingerprints. These tests can be carried out on small pieces...