DNA fingerprinting
noun
: a technique used especially for identification (as for forensic purposes) by extracting and identifying the base-pair pattern in an individual's DNA
called also DNA typing
DNA fingerprint
noun
Examples of DNA fingerprinting in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Then, in 1984, a British geneticist named Alec Jeffreys discovered DNA fingerprinting, which allowed scientists to take a sample of hair, skin, or saliva and single out a sequence of nucleotides specific to one person.
—
Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025
Laboratory analysis, including DNA fingerprinting via the PulseNet system, confirmed the strains found in patients were genetically linked.
—Matt Cannon, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 July 2025
No matter how small or dried-out a bloodstain is, forensic scientists can now gather enough genetic material to do DNA fingerprinting.
—Popular Mechanics Editors, Popular Mechanics, 20 Oct. 2022
Investigators performed DNA fingerprinting on the bacteria in the sick people’s samples and found that they were closely related genetically.
—David Williams, CNN, 5 Aug. 2021
Moving from a DNA fingerprinting technique drilled into lab techs over decades to a new method with a new machine with its own quirks is not a trivial hurdle, says Danny Hellwig, who operates a not-for-profit crime lab in Utah dedicated to using next-generation sequencing to solve cold cases.
—Megan Molteni, Wired, 16 Dec. 2020
Fellow Brit Alec Jeffreys used the technique to develop DNA fingerprinting, which can distinguish individuals from each other.
—Inside Science Staff, Discover Magazine, 4 Oct. 2019
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Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025
Laboratory analysis, including DNA fingerprinting via the PulseNet system, confirmed the strains found in patients were genetically linked.
—Matt Cannon, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 July 2025
No matter how small or dried-out a bloodstain is, forensic scientists can now gather enough genetic material to do DNA fingerprinting.
—Popular Mechanics Editors, Popular Mechanics, 20 Oct. 2022
Investigators performed DNA fingerprinting on the bacteria in the sick people’s samples and found that they were closely related genetically.
—David Williams, CNN, 5 Aug. 2021
Moving from a DNA fingerprinting technique drilled into lab techs over decades to a new method with a new machine with its own quirks is not a trivial hurdle, says Danny Hellwig, who operates a not-for-profit crime lab in Utah dedicated to using next-generation sequencing to solve cold cases.
—Megan Molteni, Wired, 16 Dec. 2020
Fellow Brit Alec Jeffreys used the technique to develop DNA fingerprinting, which can distinguish individuals from each other.
—Inside Science Staff, Discover Magazine, 4 Oct. 2019
Cite this Entry
“DNA fingerprinting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/DNA%20fingerprinting. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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