Explaining DNA fingerprints

[Cross Country Runner]

Today in school my biology teacher was talking about DNA fingerprinting and he explained the basics. First the DNA is broken up by restiction enzymes. The mixture of broken DNA is placed in a well on a gel pad. Then the Electric current is run through the gel pad. The current flows from negative to postive. The shortest fragments of DNA are towards the postive source and the longer fragments are near the negative end. that forms a DNA fingerprint through a series of bars.

However I was wondering what the enzymes are made up of. Plus if anyone has anyother infomation please reply.

[mith]

enzymes are made of proteins, we have a good dictionary if you look on the top right hand corner of the page.

[thank.darwin]

First the DNA is broken up by restiction enzymes

http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultran ... zymes.html

[MrMistery]

Correction, mithrill: enzymes are proteins, they are made of aminoacids

[mith]

ah, that's right.

[ac83]

or did he mean what restriction enzymes do...?
they have recognition sites and will cut the DNA at places which matches these recognition sequences.

This is probably repeating the stuff in the link thank.darwin provided though