DNA PATERNITY TESTING; WHEN GENETICS IS THE PRESIDING JUDGE.

EASE IN:

DNA paternity testing is the new cool kid on the block. In countries with high rates of paternity fraud, a lot of distraught fathers are running to the technology to find out the true parentage of their child. DNA paternity testing can also be required for legal reasons such as claiming child support or for purposes of immigration. In the social press, DNA paternity testing had become heralded as the sorceress wielding the magic wand that resolves serious biological dilemmas, and for valid reasons; taking blood samples or a swab of the inner cheek from a child and their parents, and coming back with a definitive report that says “he is the father” can look like something straight out of a biological wonderland. However, the mystery of this tool of detection is explained by genetics.

THE GENETICS BEHIND PARENTAGE:

When a woman gets pregnant, it means that a sperm (cell from the father) and an egg (cell from the mother) come together to form a new single cell called a zygote. In this process, the genetic material or DNA of the mother is copied and sent into the zygote, same as that of the father, so effectively the parents each contribute half of the genetic material that makes the child. And yes in case you were wondering, this single-cell zygote divides so many times that counting it would make your head spin, and the result is the child that has trillions of very specialized cells performing complex functions. Although there is some recombination within the child that creates features that are unique to the new individual, a lot of the genes in the child can be traced to the biological parents, and it is this tracing that DNA testing for paternity does when it is called upon to resolve conflicts.

HOW IS DNA PATERNITY TESTING DONE:

To conduct DNA testing for paternity, DNA samples of the child and the parents - ideally both parents but more importantly that of the father - are required. Often these samples are taken from cells in the cheeks or the blood. To collect the cells, a buccal swab can be used to swab the inside of the check and this is returned to the lab for analysis. Also, blood samples can be taken and sent to the lab. In the lab, DNA is extracted from the cells but often the quantity may not be enough for analysis, so it is passed through a process called polymerase chain reaction which serves to multiply the quantity of DNA to produce a sizeable amount for analysis. Now the analysis; the DNA is taken through a process called DNA sequencing where the DNA of the child and that of the assumed father are checked for similarities. Sometimes an additional sample belonging to another person is added for comparison. Because a father should share genetic similarities with their child, the presence of these similar features between paternal and child DNA gives a positive result of paternity.

CONTROVERSY RESOLVED? OR NOT:

DNA testing is touted to have 99.9% accuracy in resolving the paternity of a child when in question, but there are several issues that surround the concept of proving paternity. The most obvious are the ethical and trust implications involved in subjecting a child to the procedure. Recommended guidelines suggest that all individuals involved should consent to the procedure and willingly provide samples for analysis, but in a lot of cases the initiators of these tests are worried fathers wishing to test children who are still infants and unable to consent. Also, instances arise where mothers are not aware of samples being collected from children for paternity testing and this can breed distrust even when the result of the test is good news for the father.?

Another issue that can arise is distinguishing between two potential fathers who are related and share a lot of genetic material in common. Whereas it is a straightforward matter if the contest of paternity is between 2 unrelated men, it gets more complicated when the men are related, for example, if they are identical twins. By virtue of their genetic relationship, identical twins share a lot of their genes in common, therefore they are both likely to share similar DNA sequences with a child if both are submitted for paternity testing.?

CONCLUSION:

DNA testing holds a lot of promise in its use for social good, but like every technology is fraught with its own set of challenges, especially regarding ethical considerations. When trust is on the line, paternity testing becomes a double-edged sword with the potential to make or mar, and this, more than the accuracy of the actual technology, is where the quagmire lies.