DNA bioprints: simple nonisotopic DNA fingerprints with biotinylated probes

The discovery of multilocal DNA fingerprinting represented a revolution in criminal identification and paternity testing. However, for routine use in clinical laboratories, the standard DNA fingerprint methodology is too complex. We have been successful in the development of a simplified DNA nonisotopic fingerprinting system using biotin-labeled probes which we have called DNA bioprints. To achieve this we explored three main technical features: utilization of biotinylated nonradioactive probes as a simpler substitute for 32P-labeled probes, utilization of oligonucleotide probes as a simpler substitute for recombinant probes, and direct hybridization in the dried agarose gel as a simpler substitute for Southern blots. In this article we review our results in the development of DNA bioprints.