“Is he the father of my child?” are questions that frequently emerge, not only in movie and novel storylines but also in courts and for peace of mind. Paternity testing provides scientific data to answer these issues.
The principle of paternity testing
The technology of DNA fingerprinting, which was initially reported in 1985, has evolved into a potent tool for DNA paternity testing and maternity testing. It was originally released in 1988 and has subsequently developed. The current gold standard uses a molecular biology approach that allows exponential DNA fragment amplification.
The procedures are straightforward, needing only a tiny sample of the child’s and prospective biological father’s body fluids/tissue.
DNA-based paternity testing has become the most widely acknowledged way of establishing a biological link. The pattern of genetic marker inheritance between siblings differs from that between parents and children.
Sampling for DNA paternity testing.
While paternity testing may be done quickly by taking blood or cheek swabs from individuals, it is more complicated if the test is needed before the baby is born, which is called prenatal DNA testing.
three ways for acquiring a DNA sample from the child in pregnancy are;
Non-Invasive Prenatal Paternity (NIPP) test
Amniocentesis
Chorionic Villus Sampling (CV)
Methodology of test
A DNA sample from the kid and the probable father is collected for paternity testing. A DNA sample can be acquired in a variety of ways. The DNA is fragmented using many methods, and the pieces are separated by size on a gel, resulting in a characteristic banding pattern.
RFLP
Restriction Length of Fragment Polymorphism is a technique that exploits unique DNA patterns in certain sections of a person’s genome. These unique locations can be identified and cut by a broad class of proteins known as “restriction enzymes.”
Paternity is established by looking for comparable patterns between the individual and the probable father in the digested pieces. Because each restriction enzyme detects a particular sequence of DNA, slight variations in the DNA will be cut at various places. Paternity can be established by examining the pattern of DNA fragments cut by the restriction enzyme. Although this method has been utilized for paternity testing and forensics, it is time-consuming.
PCR
This allows the creation of enormous volumes of DNA from a tiny amount of template DNA. These pieces are then tagged with fluorescent tags, allowing them to be seen on a gel. Paternity is proven 99.99 percent accuracy if nearly half of the details are studied to match the kid and the probable father.
Furthermore, the PCR-based method requires a smaller DNA quantity than the RFLP approach.
Understanding the Results of Paternity Testing
In a DNA paternity test, there are two possible outcomes:
Exclusion. – The individual who is being checked is not the biological parent. A paternity exclusion report will include two exclusions at two different genetic markers. The likelihood of paternity is 0% when a paternity exclusion is given.
Integration. – The biological parent of the individual tested is accepted, and the report of prenatal paternity testing states that they are NOT EXCLUDED. A combined paternity index of more than 1000 is indicated if the report shows that the tested guy is not disqualified as the biological father of the tested kid. The likelihood of paternity is more than 99.9% when the CPI is more significant than 1000. The CPI number is the number of people in the combined population who would need to be tested if they shared the same profile as the person being tested.
Paternity testing has legal ramifications.
There are both legal and non-legal tests to choose from. Non-legal testing includes at-home DNA tests that provide the same results as official paternity tests. On the other hand, data cannot be utilized in a court of law and is not deemed acceptable in court. In court proceedings and for legal purposes, only court-ordered testing is permitted.
DNA Paternity testing guidelines and procedures vary substantially from nation to nation. Before you conduct the test, make sure you are familiar with the laws in your country.
