Dictionary

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR): A technique widely used in molecular biology that uses a DNA polymerase to amplify a piece of DNA in vitro enzymatic replication. As the PCR progresses, the DNA is generated as a template for replication and soon the DNA template is amplified.

Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP): A variation in the DNA sequence of a genome that can be detected by breaking the DNA into pieces with restriction enzymes and analyzing the size of the resulting fragments by gel electrophoresis.

Ribotyping: A type of genetic fingerprinting of genomic DNA restriction fragments that have all or parts of certain genes.

Short tandem repeat (STR): A class of polymorphisms which occurs when a pattern of two or more nucleotides are repeated, and then the repeated sequences are directly adjacent to each other.

STR Analysis: A method of genetic fingerprinting that is based on PCR and using Short tandem repeats (STR).