What Does Each Different Band on a DNA Fingerprint Represent

Question

What does each different band on a DNA fingerprint represent?
A) gene
B) VNTR site
C) allele
D) pleiotropy

Accepted Answer

Each different band on a DNA fingerprint represents a VNTR (variable number tandem repeat) site, which is a section of DNA where the number of repeating base pairs can vary from person to person. The presence or absence of a band at a particular VNTR site indicates the individual's genotype at that site, which is one of the factors used to create a unique DNA fingerprint. Genes and alleles are broader concepts that refer to sections of DNA that code for specific traits, while pleiotropy is the phenomenon where a single gene can affect multiple traits.