Each lane represents one student In this experiment, you will amplify a non-codi

Question

Each lane represents one student

In this experiment, you will amplify a non-coding region of chromosome 1 containing the VNTR designated pMCT118, which has a repeat unit of 16 base pairs (bp). Most individuals have between 14 and 40 copies of the repeat on each of their copies of chromosome 1. Importantly, there is a great deal of variability at this region between individuals, so it can be used in for identifying people in paternity testing and forensic science.

The pMCT118 locus has a high degree of heterozygosity, meaning that most people have different numbers of repeats on the chromosomes they inherit from their mother and father. An individual’s two copies of chromosome 1 usually have different numbers of copies, as do the chromosomes from two different individuals. The different versions of the pMCT118 polymorphism are referred to as alleles and are inherited in a Mendelian fashion on the maternal and paternal copies of chromosome 1.

Determine the number of different alleles represented among your classmates, the number of people whose DNA fingerprints “match,” and the percentage of heterozygous individuals. Compare your class data with the following pMCT118 data from scientific studies of large populations:

Total pMCT118 alleles: 29

pMCT118 heterozygosity: 72% of people

pMCT118 matches: 1 in 18 people

Explanation / Answer

Repeat unit of 16 bp is there. In the above diagram, 12 wells are there. Two of them (lane 1 and 6) are markers. This means DNA of ten individuals from a class have been selected. Please note that the data shows only 2 to 3 alleles in class. This much information is very less for comparison with scientific studies of large populations.

Lane 7 and 12 are not showing any band. So, pMCT118 allele is absent here.

DNA of lane 9 and 10 is matching. So, percentage of matching fingerprints = (2*100/10) = 20%

DNA of lane 3, 4, 5 and 11 is homozygous. So, percentage of homozygous persons = (4*100/10) = 40%

Individual of lane 2 and 8 is heterozygous. So, percentage of matching fingerprints = (2*100/10) = 20%. This shows that 2 out of 10 are pMCT118 matches.

Overall heterozygosity is 72% and heterozygosity in class data is only 20%. Still comparison of large population with just 10 individuals of class is not a good idea.

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