How can genetic engineering be used in forensic science and paternity tests?

Genetic fingerprinting is a technique that utilises the presence of highly repetitive non-coding DNA sequences in the human genome, known as variable number tandem repeats (VNTRs). These vary considerably between individuals, with the number of repeats, and therefore size of these VNTRs, being different. Only identical twins possess the same number of VNTRs, as the VNTRs are the result of inheritance from the parents. Therefore, by using endonuclease restriction enzymes to obtain DNA fragments, and these are visualised using radioactive probes complementary to the fragments. A banding pattern is obtained, that can then be used in a variety of contexts.In forensic science, the blood sample from a crime scene will have a genetic fingerprint profile that can be compared to a suspect sample. For a paternity test, as 50% of the genetic material that makes up are genome comes from our father, the banding pattern should have about 50% the same as their progeny if they are the father.