Such research is particularly focused on the parts of DNA that do not represent genes, and most used is the so-called repetitive DNA, i.e. sections of the genetic molecule in which short or long sequences of building blocks are repeated, often in a row (tandem repeat). These areas show a high degree of distinctive differences in the number of repetitions of a given party is dissimilar from peculiar to individual.
In forensic medicine currently used short tandem repeat regions (STR). Because these areas can be copied by so-called PCR technique (see the polymerase ), required minimal amounts of DNA to characterize an individual. If several such as STR'er combined - eg. 11 or more - is the probability that two unrelated individuals shall have the same profile extremely low.
Anti-sense DNA strand, the DNA strand of a gene that is used as a template for RNA polymerase during transcription to synthesize a complementary mRNA strand.
DNA adducts, compounds that are bound to the DNA molecule and to prevent this molecule can replicate itself exactly. DNA adducts thus gives rise to mutations. An example of compounds that form DNA adducts, is PAH'er (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, e.g. benzene pyrene), found in cigarette smoke and tar and is formed by all combustion of organic materials.
