Kinship DNA Fingerprinting Simulation Kit

An engaging hands-on activity that explores the human inheritance of VNTR regions and the theory, process, and applications of DNA fingerprinting. Students are presented with an immigration court case and act as forensic scientists to determine if the subjects involved are biologically related. Using color-coded pop-bead models, students simulate molecular biology procedures to create a simplified DNA fingerprint for one subject. In groups, students use the kit's materials to simulate restriction enzyme digeston, gel electrophoresis, Southern transfer, probe hybridization, and autoradiography. Students then compare the DNA fingerprint they create to DNA fingerprints provided and determine if the subjects are biologically related.