DNA paternity testing inquiries. Custody disputes Identification of missing persons Prenatal determination of a paternity or zygosity of twinning Estate inheritance litigation Immigration Heredity dictates that a child inherits one half of its DNA pattern from its mother and the other half of its pattern from its biological father. If that portion of the child s DNA pattern which is not inherited from the mother is present in the alleged father s pattern, the alleged father is not excluded as the biological father. A probability of paternity can be determined based on the frequency of the alleged father s matching portion in the population. If the DNA pattern of the alleged father does not match, he is excluded as the biological father.
Exclusion is verified by at least three probe systems.
The resulting DNA fragments are separated according to size by electrophoresis and Southern blotted. Several single locus DNA probes are used to identify highly polymorphic DNA fragments. The DNA fragment sizes are determined by a computerized system. The probability that the alleged father is the biological father is determined from a broad database. Sterile procedures should be observed.