Editing Variable number tandem repeat (section)

{{Short description|Location in a genome}}
{{More citations needed|date=May 2017}}
[[Image:VNTRDemo.gif|thumb|right|650px|{{center|Schematic of a variable number of tandem repeats in four alleles.}}]]

A '''variable number tandem repeat''' (or '''VNTR''') is a location in a [[genome]] where a short [[nucleotide sequence]] is organized as a [[tandem repeat]].  These can be found on many [[chromosome]]s, and often show [[Polymorphism (biology)|variations]] in length (number of repeats) among individuals.  Each variant acts as an [[Heredity|inherited]] [[allele]], allowing them to be used for personal or parental identification.  Their analysis is useful in [[genetics]] and [[biology]] research, [[forensics]], and [[DNA fingerprinting]].