Final answer:
DNA fingerprinting is a biological technique used to identify individuals by their unique DNA characteristics, involving PCR amplification and agarose gel electrophoresis to create a distinctive banding pattern.
Step-by-step explanation:
DNA fingerprinting is a forensic technique used to identify individuals by characteristics of their DNA. It involves collecting DNA samples and amplifying them using the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). The amplified DNA is then digested with restriction enzymes to create fragments. These fragments are separated by agarose gel electrophoresis, producing a unique banding pattern that can be compared across samples to determine genetic relationships or identities.
Genetic markers such as restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP), variable number of tandem repeats (VNTRs), and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) contribute to the uniqueness of the DNA pattern for an individual, which is especially useful in criminal investigations and paternity tests.