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DNA Test Technology
A parentage test is conducted
to determine whether two individuals have a biological parent-child
relationship. A paternity test establishes genetic proof whether a
man is the biological father of an individual, and a maternity test
establishes whether a woman is the biological mother of an
individual.
DNA profiling (also called DNA testing, DNA typing, or genetic
fingerprinting) Identification of individuals on the basis of their
respective DNA profiles. DNA profiles are basically just sets of
numbers that can be used as a identifier. The number set can be
encrypted to a DNA indentification number. DNA profiling should thus
not be confused with full genome sequencing. [1] Although 99.9% of
human DNA sequences are the same in every person, enough of the DNA
is different to distinguish one individual from another. DNA
profiling uses repetitive ("repeat") sequences that vary a lot,
called variable number tandem repeats (VNTR). VNTRs loci are very
similar between closely related humans, but so variable that
unrelated individuals are extremely unlikely to have the same VNTRs.
The DNA profiling technique was first reported in 1985 by Sir Alec
Jeffreys at the University of Leicester in England,[2] and is now
the basis of several national DNA databases.
DNA analysis (known as genetic fingerprinting of individuals),
offers a more reliable way to determine the genetic parent, although
older methods have included ABO blood group typing, analysis of
various other proteins and enzymes, or using HLA antigens. The
current techniques for paternity testing are using polymerase chain
reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP).
DNA testing is currently the most advanced and accurate technology
to determine parentage. In a DNA parentage test, the probability of
parentage [1] is 0% when the alleged parent is not biologically
related to the child and the probability of paternity typically
greater than 99.9% when the alleged parent is biologically related
to the child.
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