The basis of DNA fingerprinting is

Options

A. The double helix
B. Errors in base sequence
C. Polymorphism in sequence
D. DNA replication

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding DNA Fingerprinting**: DNA fingerprinting, also known as DNA profiling, is a technique used to identify individuals based on their unique DNA characteristics.

2. **Human Genome Similarity**: It is important to note that humans share about 99.9% of their DNA sequences. However, the small percentage (0.1%) accounts for significant variations among individuals.

3. **Genome Size**: The human genome consists of approximately 3.3 billion base pairs. The variations in DNA sequences among individuals can be substantial, amounting to about 3 million base pairs that differ from one person to another.

4. **Identifying Differences**: DNA fingerprinting focuses on identifying differences in specific regions of the DNA sequence, particularly in repetitive DNA. Repetitive DNA consists of short sequences that are repeated multiple times.

5. **Types of Repetitive DNA**: There are two main types of repetitive DNA: microsatellites and minisatellites. These regions can vary in the number of repeats from one individual to another.

6. **Restriction Enzymes and RFLP**: When DNA is cut with restriction enzymes, it produces fragments of varying lengths based on the number of repeats in the DNA sequence. This variation in fragment lengths is known as Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP).

7. **Polymorphism Definition**: Polymorphism refers to the genetic variation at specific loci in the DNA. This variation can arise due to mutations and is the key to distinguishing between different individuals.

8. **Application of DNA Fingerprinting**: The technique is widely used in forensic science, medical diagnostics, and paternity testing, among other fields.

9. **Conclusion**: The basis of DNA fingerprinting lies in the polymorphism present in the DNA sequences, specifically in the repetitive regions. Thus, the correct answer to the question is option C: polymorphism in sequence.

---