In
molecular biology,
restriction fragment length polymorphism, or RFLP, is a technique that exploits variations in homologous DNA sequences. It refers to a
difference between samples of
homologous DNA molecules from differing locations of
restriction enzyme sites, and to a related laboratory technique by which these segments can be illustrated. In
RFLP analysis, the DNA sample is broken into pieces and (digested) by
restriction enzymes and the resulting
restriction fragments are separated according to their lengths by
gel electrophoresis. Although now largely obsolete due to the rise of inexpensive DNA sequencing technologies, RFLP analysis was the first
DNA profiling technique inexpensive enough to see widespread application. RFLP analysis was an important tool in
genome mapping, localization of genes for
genetic disorders, determination of
risk for disease, and
paternity testing.