Final answer:
DNA fingerprinting is used in a variety of identification tasks such as paternity testing and criminal investigation, but it is not used to replace defective genes which is a part of gene therapy.
Step-by-step explanation:
DNA fingerprinting encompasses a range of techniques used for identifying individuals based on their unique DNA patterns. Although there are numerous applications for DNA fingerprinting, such as paternity testing, identifying pathogens, and analyzing crime scene specimens, it is not directly used for gene therapy, which involves replacing defective genes with normal copies. This process of correcting genetic defects is more intricate and involves additional biological mechanisms beyond the scope of DNA fingerprinting.
In forensic science, a person or organism's identity can be confirmed by comparing their DNA with a standard or control DNA. DNA testing is particularly effective in tracing genealogy, identifying archaeological finds, studying human migration patterns, and disease predisposition. The most commonly used procedures today focus on short tandem repeats (STR), offering a high degree of accuracy due to the variability in the sequence among individuals, except for identical twins.
Therefore, the option 'replacing defective genes with normal copies' does not represent an application of DNA fingerprinting, as it pertains to genetic engineering or gene therapy, rather than identification or comparison of DNA samples.