Generating fingerprints
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Profiles
DNA Fingerprint profiles are generated
on automatic sequencers or in common
gel electrophoresis chambers: a mixture
of DNA fragments with different lengths
migrate in an electric field through a gel
matrix and are separated by length.
Shorter fragments run faster than longer
ones. The fragments are detected
usually by measuring a fluorescence
signal coupled to the fragments and after
having run a certain distance or time.
Detection
The detection occurs either by a CCD
camera (or other detectors) as a
continuous measurement (trace
measurement) or after the complete run
as a still image by a digital camera.
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Figure 1. Image of a DNA fingerprint gel
with a size standard (first lane) and eight
fingerprint profiles. For one sample the
trace profile is shown (blue line).
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File extension
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Source
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Automatic capillary sequencers of the Prism series (Applied
Biosystems Group, ABI).
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Automatic sequencers of several manufacturers, e.g.
Beckman Coulter.
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BMP
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Windows bitmap format used for saving images by some gel
documentation systems.
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TIFF
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An image format used by many gel documentation systems
and also by automatic sequencers of LI-COR Biotechnology.
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BMP, GIF, JPG
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These and other image formats are used by many gel
documentation systems.
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