What technique uses unique DNA patterns to identify individuals?

The technique that uses unique DNA patterns to identify individuals is DNA fingerprinting. This method analyzes specific regions of the DNA that are highly variable among individuals, often referred to as short tandem repeats (STRs) or variable number tandem repeats (VNTRs). Because these regions vary significantly from person to person, they create a unique profile or "fingerprint" for each individual, which can be used in forensic science, paternity testing, and identifying genetic relationships among individuals.

In contrast, disease testing is focused on identifying genes responsible for specific genetic disorders, while genetic screening typically aims to assess the risk of individuals developing certain conditions or passing on genetic traits to their offspring. Gene sequencing involves determining the precise order of nucleotides in a DNA molecule, which is useful for various applications but does not specifically focus on creating unique identifiers for individuals. Thus, DNA fingerprinting is the most appropriate answer for identifying individuals based on their unique DNA patterns.