DNA Testing for paternity identification related issues is not the mystery it was only a few years ago.

After all, it makes regular appearances in the crime novels we read, the CSI shows on TV and in courtroom dramas on the big screen.

Most people understand that DNA (also known as our chromosomal fingerprint) can be found in trace evidence from crime scenes and is used to identify criminals.

Legal DNA Paternity Testing

Legal DNA Testing, done through an accredited DNA Testing facility, is court admissible evidence and considered one of our best ways of pinpointing identity through evidence left behind such as blood, hair, saliva or bodily fluids. But it is always very frequently used in identifying the paternity of a child.

In order to understand how DNA Testing works, it is essential to understand DNA itself. DNA consists of a ladder-like structure of chromosomes that a father and a mother contribute to a child.

At birth, that child has identifiable characteristics of both the mother and the father’s DNA within his/her own DNA structure.

Historically, attributes such as eye color, hair color, blood type and facial features were the things that fathers used to be certain of parentage. And in fact, there is a test for eye color that can potentially eliminate a man as a child’s father.

However, there is a much broader range of error in that test than accuracy. Even blood type can be tricky. So many people share the same blood type, it would be impossible to eliminate a woman’s husband who shared the same blood type as the child’s biological father.

Today, DNA Testing is also used in a number of domestic cases, including when there is a dispute or a question concerning the true identity of a child’s father.

Paternity DNA Tests

Paternity DNA Testing can be done using only a DNA Testing sample from the presumed father and from the child in question. However, it is much more accurate if the mother’s DNA Testing sample is included in the test.

There are also two kinds of tests-the less expensive home DNA Testing kits and the legal DNA Testing done through an accredited facility. Experts recommend where paternity is concerned, it pays to do the DNA Test legally, so that the results are court admissible.

There are a myriad of reasons why it might be important to know the true identity of a child’s father, but it’s a complicated issue, fraught with emotional land mines.

In most states, if a man and a woman have been married 300 days at the time the woman gives birth, her husband is legally considered to be the father of the child. However, that assumes that the wife has been entirely faithful to the marriage.

In most cases, this is true, and the husband has no reason to assume differently.

But suppose a question has come up about a child’s parentage.In the case of Dean Smith, 34, a Los Angeles carpenter, divorce was imminent. He and his wife had a daughter who was three-years-old, whom Dean had always assumed was his.

But in the heat of an argument, his wife had implied that might not be the case. Suddenly, Dean was no longer sure she was his biological daughter. He considered getting a DNA Paternity Test.

Paternity Identification and the Right to Know

Now, there are a number of factors at work here:

Dean has the right to know if he is the father of the child he has been raising and supporting. Legally, he is responsible for her.

The child has the right to know if Dean is, in fact, her father.

If Dean is her biological father, then he is legally bound to support the child until she turns 18. If he is not her biological father, he might have a case for discontinuing child support.

The problem is, Dean loves the little girl, whether he is, in fact, her father or not.

So, complicated issues of betrayal, legality and ethics arise around paternity and these should all be considered carefully before deciding to do a Paternity DNA test.

In messy divorce cases, there are times when legal DNA testing evidence that eliminates a husband as the father can have serious financial ramifications for both the child and the father.

Women also have a right to know paternity of their children. If a woman has had several partners and is not certain of paternity, a DNA paternity case can resolve this question.

Not only does she then have the legal right to expect financial support from the biological father, but her child will have an accurate family history to trace as he/she gets older. It can also prove to an uncertain husband that he is, in fact, the father of her child.

Gina, 18, had been adopted at birth. She loved her adoptive parents but was curious about her biological parents. Her search took her two years, but eventually, she found Tom, the man she believed was her father.

Tom was married with a young family, and had no idea a child had been born of a relationship that ended years before his current one. He agreed to do a paternity DNA Test.

They both gave saliva swipe samples to an accredited DNA Testing facility. The results took seven days to complete and cost nearly $500. It turned out Tom was, in fact, Gina’s biological father.

With all doubt removed from the equation, Tom acknowledged Gina as his daughter and introduced her to his wife and Gina’s half-siblings. For Gina and her new family, the DNA Paternity Test was well worth the money.

DNA Testing Laboratory Procedures

By: Larry Borsheim
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Larry Borsheim is a freelance writer with specialized knowledge in chemistry, DNA Testing and Drug Testing. Contact Larry at mailto:dnadrugtest@gmail.com for more information.

There are many common myths about DNA Paternity Tests and most of them are exactly that,  just myths and not the real truth about paternity testing using DNA.

Once upon a time they may have been considered as truth by some people, but fortunately this is no longer the case with most people now having access to the right information.

Regrettably, there are still persistent myths about paternity testing and the fears that some people may have.

Almost all of these are unfounded and completely untrue. Here are ones most frequently observed and why they are most likely completely false.

A Paternity Test is Expensive

This is not necessarily true and especially if you are only wondering about the paternity of a specific child.

Affordable home paternity test kits can permit you to determine the validity of your genetic relationship to a child and confirm parenthood.

The cost of a genetic paternity test can be less than $100, but there are consequences that you should be aware of.

The results of a home paternity test are not considered legally valid in most courts of law involving child support or custody cases.

Also, if there are serious legal issues related to child support or custody, then it may save you money later to consider using the professional DNA testing centers available.

Even if a professionally conducted DNA paternity test costs a few hundred dollars, it may likely be worth it.

Your Privacy May be Violated

In almost every instance of parentage DNA testing conducted by professional labs, privacy is virtually guaranteed.

The only people that could reveal the results would be either the individuals requesting it, or a court of law.

The exception to this involves using a child support agency to assist you in determining fatherhood.

These agencies may be forced by current local laws to selectively provide the DNA test results to those directly involved.

If possible, use private testing services instead, although it is unlikely anyone except concerned parties would ever seek such information.

I Can’t have DNA Testing Now Because I’m Pregnant

As a potential mother, you can seek to have a prenatal paternity test performed during pregnancy, but there are some disadvantages.

It is possible to have amniocentesis performed to collect some fetal cells that could be used in a DNA paternity test.

There are several potential risks involved in this procedure and obviously because it is an invasive prenatal paternity test that can affect the unborn child.

A more advisable strategy would be to wait until the child is born and extract cells from the child’s umbilical cord.

If you can’t wait, at least be aware of the risks involved to your unborn child.

A DNA Paternity Test is Painful

In the past and before DNA testing services became available; only a blood sample would be required. For some, this would have been considered as painful, but in recent years all that is required is a simple swab to collect genetic material from the inside of the cheek.

There is no pain involved and it takes only a few seconds to do this. Likely, the only pain experienced would perhaps be emotional when the paternity test results are received and depend on what you do with that information.

I am Uncertain about the Real Father – How can I Know?

If you have doubts as to identify of the real father and are unable to contact him, you may wish to consider using paternal DNA from either or both grandparents.

Doing so will allow you to confirm whether or not the child is a genetic descendant of them.

This type of test is likely less accurate than using DNA samples from the direct parents, but is still an option you may wish to pursue.

DNA Paternity Testing Labs are Too Far Away

This should not present a problem because in many instances, a home DNA testing kit can be sent to you by mail and the results returned to the same address.

A professional DNA testing facility will likely have sample collection sites across a country.

Even if the assumed father cannot be located, as long as there is a test hair or skin sample available, this may prove to be adequate in validating a genetic paternity test.

All Paternity Test Labs are the Same

This is totally false and you can verify this either by using multiple lab services or simply by reviewing them. It’s much easer to look up each of the potential DNA testing labs than it is to experience the difficulties of actually using each one.

An important consideration when choosing any DNA lab for parental testing is to ensure that they check the results twice. The purpose of this is to rule out false positive results. A result that is considered positive can still actually be false, although the likelihood of this occurring is usually quite low.

Double checking the process and the DNA testing profile virtually guarantees that you are provided with results that are as accurate as possible.

Understanding DNA Testing and Legal Issues

A DNA sibling test can be used to conclusively determine the probability of two persons having the same common parents, ancestry and genealogy.

This is mostly likely useful in scenarios in which the targeted parents are either unwilling or perhaps unable to participate in a DNA paternity test.

If it is possible that either of the possible parents are available, a desired option would be to conduct a comparision using a DNA test. This may not always be convenient or inviting to those involved.

A DNA sibling testing can be used to decide the likelihood of two or more individuals being full siblings, half siblings or sharing no biological relationship; effectively meaning that they are not related.

Full siblings have two biological parents in common (a mother and father), whereas half siblings have only one parent in common (either the mother or the father).

DNA Biological Relationships

The DNA Sibling test is conducted by examining the number of shared genetic markers between the individuals tested and strives to determine the probability of a biological relationship existing between these people.

The goal of this test is therefore to analyse the degree of shared DNA and to apply statistical analytical methods in order to determine a possible biological relationship.

The greater the likelihood of the common DNA provided indicates a higher probability of a possible biological relationship.

It is suggested that any and all common and not so common family and related persons participate in addressing paternity and DNA confirmation. Physically, this is at best easy, but emotionally and psychologically, it may be quite difficult.

Sibling Tests and Genealogy

There are certain moral issues that should be addressed before considering a DNA paternity test.

The mother who is not completely certain as to the father of the child, the desire for child support or custody, financial issues and the need to ensure the best for the child.

It is not news that a paternity test using DNA is now the most popular method of establishing the genetic identity of a particular child and parentage.

After taking samples of DNA from the mother, the child and the presumed father, test results from an accredited testing lab will reveal the likelihood of the man being the true father to an accuracy of 99.7 percent or better.

But what are the most likely reasons for a mother or alleged father in pursuing a legal DNA paternity test?

Child Support Issues

For a man who is uncertain he is the father of the child, he may simply wish to not pay child support unless his genetic relationship with the child is confirmed.

If the mother was suspected of having multiple encounters with other men, then the presumed father is ethically justified in pursuing a paternity test.

Indeed, in most countries he has a legal right to discover the truth.

But the reverse is equally possible in that the man is the true genetic father, seeks acknowledgement and truly desires to help the child in any way possible.

However, the mother may not wish this and may prefer to sever her relationship with him, either financially or in all respects.

With respect to the mother of the child, it may be the case that she is seeking financial support because she knows for certain that he is the father.

Unfortunately, this is not always true and she may not even be certain of paternity, but still seek support possibly because the man is financially stable and can provide for her child.

Even if this is considered morally wrong, should the mother be overly criticized for wanting her child to be brought up in a secure environment?

Child Custody Issues

In most legal cases involving child custody, the mother and alleged father are no longer together and frequently have a dislike for each other.

But because there is a child involved this may become a far more important issue than the feelings they have toward each other.

A mother may seek a genetic paternity test in order to avoid sharing custody of the child. It is also possible that she truly wishes to share custody, but only under certain conditions that are not practical or acceptable unless a court of law dictates it.

The presumed father also has a legal right to pursue a test for paternity in order to secure access to his child.

Although there are some uncaring fathers, the majority of men want to help, in any reasonable way possible.

DNA Sampling for Paternity Test

Rape Cases, DNA Testing and Wrongful Convictions

Prior to the availability and acceptance of DNA test results in the courts of law, it has been the case that some men convicted of rape were truly innocent, and those that were actually responsible, never even suspected.

Many wrongful convictions of rape have been overturned by establishing genetic DNA proof that the assaulter was not the one who fathered the child.

And as a mirror can reflect the truth only for those that wish to see it, a presumably innocent man is actually the one responsible.

Identifying Birth Defects with DNA Testing

A prenatal paternity test can help to determine if the future child will have any negative physical syndromes, but these are invasive prenatal tests that may affect either or both mother and child.

Before even conceiving a child, a couple can undergo DNA testing with a certified testing lab to be sure that there are no errant genes in their shared chromosomes that would negatively affect their child.

Unfortunately, in the past this was too costly, but now with affordable DNA testing, they can know for certain if there could be a problem with their future child.

To summarize, most courts of law recognize the validity of paternity tests, but only if they are conducted by professionals and using accredited DNA testing laboratories.

If a home paternity testing kit was used, it is highly unlikely the courts would acknowledge the results as legitimate.

Only legal DNA paternity test results will be accepted as such in the majority of child support and custody cases.

Also, be aware of the motivation and moral consequences involved in undergoing a paternity test. The test results you discover with a DNA test may not be quite what you expected.

Organ Donor DNA Compatibility

Analyzing and comparing the DNA of an organ donor with that of the recipient is extremely important in order to avoid tissue rejection issues.

A DNA test can compare the donor and target DNA samples to ensure compatibility.

Of course, the most compatible organ donors involve the direct and genetically related family members, regardless of their relationship status. But this raises another specter of difficulty.

Suppose a man believing to be the father of his child discovers that his young son or daughter requires a bone marrow transplant, a blood transfusion or perhaps even a new kidney.

The DNA testing is conducted and the results confirmed with high accuracy.

The DNA lab informs the man that he is not genetically compatible and cannot provide donor tissue because he is not the true father of the child.

This would likely be emotionally devastating to a man that brought up the child assuming it was his. The consequences to the relationship between the mother and the man would likely be difficult, at the very least.

Tracing your ancestors and the genealogy of your family has become somewhat easier in recent years due to the advances in DNA testing.

For many people, it is important to establish a lineage of family links and be able to confirm these in any way possible.

Now you have a way to do exactly that, if you are willing to pursue it and deal with both the possible positive and negative consequences.

In the not so distant past, it was necessary to do exhaustive archival research and search through years and even decades or more of historical birth and death records just to determine if a presumed ancestor was exactly that; one of your true ancestors.

And even after discovering such historical family evidence, it was still likely not possible to absolutely confirm that the genetic family relationships accurately reflected what was historically recorded.

Any type of family record with respect to births, deaths and relationships could have been and possibly been altered to conceal one or more potentially dark family secrets.

There was no method available aside from any such historical records that existed until recently. Tracing genealogy using DNA testing is now possible under certain circumstances and conditions.

DNA Testing for Genealogy

If it were possible to obtain DNA samples from any chosen royal family hundreds of years ago, of any chosen domain or country, and to review their genetic profiles, it would likely not be surprising to discover some anomalies.

In other words, a recorded mother or father of a suggested offspring may be historically correct, but only serve as a lie that only DNA testing could disprove.

We can not yet travel back in time to gather DNA samples and use them to prove or disprove any degree of family lineage, whether it is a royal family, or simply your own.

But what can be done is to use recent historical records in addition to attempting to verify genealogy using DNA samples and testing methods to confirm that your family IS truly your family.

With the recent advances in DNA test methods; this has become simpler, at least with respect to potential relatives living now.

For relatives that are present, it would only be necessary to use a simple DNA testing kit to obtain a sample of their genetic material using a simple swap inside their mouth.

For presumed family members that are deceased, this can be substantially more difficult. If you have access to hair samples or any other type of biological material, then this may be sufficient in providing enough DNA material for testing and confirmation of family links.

In the worst case, and which involves forensic discovery, the body of the deceased would have to be exhumed and a reliable DNA tissue sample extracted.

This would not be something that is preferred and at best, not done unless absolutely necessary, and with legal permission from proper authorities.

DNA Family Tracing

You may not be certain whether specific family members are truly related, or have perhaps been adopted with or without your knowledge.

The only way to confirm this is to provide a sample of their DNA and yours and submit these samples to a reputable testing laboratory for analysis.

After engaging a reliable DNA test facility and submitting your samples, you will have to wait several days until the analysis is completed.

You should not be anxious about receiving results too soon. After all, you may have already waited years or perhaps even decades to find out who your true ancestors are.

You should ask yourself about the consequences of having any DNA testing procedures done for your self and assumed related family members.

It may seem just another simple medical procedure, but the results may dramatically affect you and perhaps your family in an emotional manner.

DNA Testing Consequences

Confirmation of DNA identity can have both positive and negative consequences. If it were the case that DNA testing proved without a doubt that your family is exactly that – YOUR family, there would likely be no reason to pursue the issue any further.

However, some family members may want to know why this information was desired in the first place. This is one of the potential issues that you may have to address.

But what happens if the DNA test results reveal that a family member is not genetically related?  This may be a child that you have raised as your own and now you discover that you are not the true parent.

You would have a difficult choice; tell them the truth or say nothing. In either case, it would be at best emotionally painful.

A wise course of action would be to continue to do what you have already done: be there for them and help, no matter what.

Regardless of who the biological parent is, far more important is the relationship that is established between the parent and child. This is what you have done, before knowing what the DNA test results provided, and even after.

Don’t let your ego get in the way of helping your family, even though you may feel this to be almost a need. Do what you can, and in the best way possible to help not just yourself, but your family as well.

DNA Tests for Genealogy and Ancestors

It seems that a biological father has no claim to his daughter according to Michigan’s current paternity act, which was written in the 1950′s before DNA testing was available.

This video indicates what the problem is, why it has happended and offers potential insight to others in similar paternity circumstances.

Learn how the methods and discoveries of human population genetics are applied for personal genealogical reconstruction and anthropological testing.

We will start with a short general review of human genetics and the biology behind this form of DNA testing. We will look at how DNA testing is performed and how samples are processed in our laboratory.

We will also examine examples of personal genealogical results from Family Tree DNA and personal anthropological results from the Genographic Project.

Finally, I will describe the newest project in our laboratory, the DNA Shoah Project. Speaker: Dr. Matt Kaplan, University of Arizona Genetics Core, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ Date: March 29, 2011

Andrew Faucett on unintended consequences of genetic testing, including discoveries of “non-paternity” or parents-to-be receiving “too much” information via prenatal testing.

Faucett spoke at the the 2009 Predictive Health Symposum held at Emory University Conference Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Related Links “Emory/Georgia Tech Predictive Health Symposium” Press Kit whsc.emory.edu “Predictive Health Symposium Links Biology, Behavior and the Environment” Press Release, 11/12/09 shared.web.emory.edu Emory/Georgia Tech Predictive Health Institute www.predictivehealth.emory.edu

800DNAEXAM.com of BioSynthesis Inc, is a leading provider of paternity tests and many other familial relationship DNA testing services. We provide private and legal DNA tests and other familial relationship DNA analyzes.

My girlfriend just had our baby and I just want to know that it is truly mine for peace of mind.

 The baby was born last week. How do I go about getting a paternity test and what is the cost? Also how do they perform test?

My father is in prison in Texas and a few years ago he told me he had another child before me (a daughter) and she doesn’t know about him.

I contacted her mother and she is not sure that my dad is the true father. I think my dad will be willing to cooperate. So how would I get a paternity test done?

Remember this is all in Texas and I thank you for any helpful information.

I need to have a DNA paternity test conducted to confirm if I have the same father as my two brothers.

The most important consideration is that my assumed father is now deceased.

Is it possible to determine sibling relationship and paternity using only hair samples from my two brothers or is a more powerful method advised?

Thanks in advance for any helpful suggestions.

There are additional testing procedures that must be performed after DNA samples have been properly collected and submitted to a certified lab for paternity testing.

Whether for confirmation of paternity, maternity, genetic relationships, legal requirements or simply peace of mind, once the samples have been delivered to the testing facility, the actions performed and the results provided are beyond the control of the potential biological parents, relatives, lawyers and all government agencies.

This is EXACTLY how it should be so as to ensure that the samples have not been tampered with, the identities of those submitting the samples are confirmed and that there is no abuse or interference with how the DNA testing lab conducts the tests and the lab analysis provided.

Confirming DNA Samples and Preparation for Testing

It is not necessary for any one submitting to a DNA test to fully understand the procedures involved in preparation of the samples for testing. The information provided is provided for those wishing to comprehend how such lab testing is performed.

What is likely far more important is to establish a communication interface between the testing laboratory, legal representatives and the individuals requesting the DNA analysis. This is highly warranted in legal cases involving paternity identification, child custody issues and financial support concerns.

Laboratory Analysis Methods

An important aspect to consider prior to engaging in a paternity test is understanding more about what is DNA.

Although not a requirement, many people feel more confident with the sample collection, laboratory testing, analysis and results if they understand what is actually being tested.

DNA or as technically referred to, deoxyribonucleic acid is a chemical molecular signature that distinguishes one individual from another and each human from other forms of life.

Prior to the emergence of easily accessible DNA testing methods, blood tests were used to assist in determining paternity, maternity, genealogy and sibling relationships.

Testing paternity using DNA is now the defacto standard due to the information the analysis can provide and the extremely high degree of accuracy.

What Is DNA?

A local paternity case and others like it throughout the country are raising a firestorm of questions and concerns. State legislatures and judges are grappling with questions that go to the heart of what defines being a father.

Pennsylvania says Mike is the father of his child – even though he can prove he’s not the biological father. When his daughter was 2-years-old, Mike found out his wife was having an affair. But his wife told him she would end it, and assured him that their child was his.

However, two years later, he found out that the affair was still going on and he demanded a paternity test. “Got the results back and it was zero percent chance that I could be the biological father,” said Mike.

Mike filed for divorce and after it was granted – his ex-wife remarried. But in the meantime, she sued Mike for child support even though DNA proved that he was not the biological father. He went to court expecting an open and shut case.

He was not the biological father; in fact, the child was now living with her biological father. And yet, to his surprise, Judge David Wecht ruled that Mike had to pay child support – that under state law Mike was in fact the father of the child.

Wecht says what may appear to be an obvious case is less so under state paternity law, which says that when a child is born into an intact marriage the husband in that marriage is presumed to be the father. The law pre-dates DNA testing and Wecht could not consider that evidence.