Paternity DNA Testing - What Is It About?

Paternity DNA testing is simply a DNA analysis that is carried out to help determine whether a given man is the biological father of a given child or not. It is a procedure that is made necessary by a number of reasons. Some of these reasons include a father suspecting his wife of infidelity and thus wanting to confirm whether the children they have are really his, or a father being told of an alleged child who was born from a previous relationship many years after it happened.

Why is DNA reliable?

The human body is made up of many trillions of cells that have different shapes, sizes and functions. Despite this, each cell, except the erythrocytes (also called the red blood cells), shares one single and very important trait, that is, the nucleus. In the nucleus is where genetic information which is identical from one cell to the other is housed. Since all cells in an individual contain the same genetic information, then potential DNA collection sources are many, ranging from hair roots, to saliva and even small tissue samples, with each option yielding an equally reliable DNA extract.

The Paternity DNA Testing Procedure

There are basically five different steps that are involved in the process of paternity DNA testing. These are collecting samples, extracting DNA, amplifying the DNA, measuring the DNA and reading the results.

Collecting Samples

For a successful paternity test using DNA, the testing laboratory requires a DNA source that is high yield, also said to be densely populated with DNA, and one that is also clean without any contamination. Although there are many possible sources of DNA that can fulfill these two requirements, caring companies like TESTING4DNA use the non-invasive and easy DNA sample collection techniques like cheek swabs, which is a simple and very reliable method, yielding many times over the amount of clean DNA required for the test.

DNA extraction

Extraction of DNA from the cells collected in the sample sources can be done in a number of ways. However, the basic steps are the same. These are breaking open the cells (lysis), separating the DNA from other cell lipids and proteins, and collecting the pure DNA in a stable solution.

DNA amplification for analysis (The PCR process)

Using DNA testing technology, the DNA particle is transformed in to a paternity probability. This is done through a series of steps involving the immersion of the DNA in to special solutions that contain primers and enzymes that helps build copies of the DNA. The process ends in the formation of a largely amplified fragment of DNA that is easily viewed under the DNA analyzer machine.

DNA measuring for paternity testing

Through the help of Genetic Analyzer machines and other analysis software, the DNA fragments are studied and analyzed to determine the biological relationship between the individuals in question.

Paternity test results reading

The results of a child are a combination of half of the father's alleles and a half of the mother's. Those alleles not seen in the mother's DNA must therefore be those inherited from the father. If DNA tested from the father shares matching alleles with that of the child, then there is usually an over 99.99% chance that he is the father. The opposite is also true if no matching alleles are found. Accurate paternity DNA testing results and readings can be obtained via professional DNA testing labs like TESTING4DNA.