Question

What are satellite DNA in a genome? Explain their role in DNA finger printing.

Answer 1

Satellite DNA consists of very large arrays of tandemly repeating, non-coding DNA. Satellite DNA is the main component of functional centromeres, and form the main structural constituent of heterochromatin. Satellite DNA is DNA sequences that contain highly repetitive DNA which means that a single sequence is repeated many times over. The variation between individuals in the lengths of their DNA satellites forms the basis of DNA fingerprinting.