What is the Difference Between VNTR and STR?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚VNTR (Variable Number of Tandem Repeats) and STR (Short Tandem Repeats) are two types of tandem repeats found in a eukaryotic genome. The main difference between them lies in the length of their repetitive units:
- VNTR: The repetitive unit of VNTR is 10-60 base pairs long. VNTRs are considered minisatellites.
- STR: The repetitive unit of STR is 2-6 base pairs long. STRs are considered microsatellites.
Both VNTR and STR have similarities:
- They are noncoding DNA.
- Both are tandem repeats.
- They show polymorphism among individuals due to the difference in the length of the DNA section.
- They are used as powerful genetic markers in DNA fingerprinting and forensic studies.
VNTRs are used as an important source of RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism) genetic markers for linkage analysis, genetic diversity and breeding patterns of wild and domestic animals, and distinguishing strains of bacterial pathogens. On the other hand, STRs are preferred in DNA profiling than VNTRs because of their faster analysis and higher discriminatory power.
Comparative Table: VNTR vs STR
Here is a table comparing the differences between VNTR (Variable Number Tandem Repeats) and STR (Short Tandem Repeats):
Feature | VNTR | STR |
---|---|---|
Repeating Unit | Repeating sequences consist of 10 to 100 nucleotides | Repeating sequences consist of 2 to 13 nucleotides |
Core Repeat Sequence Size | Core repeat sequence can range from 6 to 100 base pairs | Core repeat sequence ranges from 1 to 6 base pairs |
Allele Variation | VNTR alleles can range in size from 500 base pairs to over 30,000 base pairs | STR alleles typically range from 50 to 300 base pairs |
DNA Profiling | Limited use due to the need for a relatively large amount of DNA to interpret results | Preferred in DNA profiling due to easier analysis and shorter size |
Both VNTR and STR are types of tandem repeats in the genome, and they show polymorphism among individuals due to the difference in the length of the DNA section. They are both used as genetic markers in DNA fingerprinting and forensic studies.
- VNTR vs Probe
- SNP vs RFLP
- Clone vs Strain
- Species vs Strain
- Gene Sequencing vs DNA Fingerprinting
- Genotyping vs Sequencing
- SNP vs Mutation
- RAPD vs RFLP
- MLVA vs MLST
- rDNA vs cDNA
- NGS vs Sanger Sequencing
- HFR vs F+ Strains
- PCR vs DNA Sequencing
- LTR vs Non-LTR Retrotransposons
- DNA Profiling vs DNA Sequencing
- Single Strand Break vs Double Strand Break
- VDRL vs RPR
- hnRNA vs mRNA
- AFLP vs RFLP