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Thinking of baby DNA testing to solve paternity? Some basic information

Posted on | November 29, 2011 | No Comments

It is now quite common to carry out a paternity test before the birth of the child. Baby DNA testing is widely use and in many countries is pretty much standard since this type of DNA test can tell you whether your child may develop certain genetic conditions such as Down’s syndrome, Turner’s syndrome and a host of other illnesses related to the baby’s genes. Prenatal DNA test, as they are more often known, allow access to the fetal DNA, normally, by taking samples from inside the womb. The samples extracted can then either be used to determine the genetic health of the child or for a prenatal paternity test.

Non Invasive and Invasive Prenatal testing

We will discuss risky, invasive fetal DNA sampling methods such as amniocentesis a bit further on in this article. A new breakthrough in the field of DNA testing means that now there is the possibility of carrying out a prenatal paternity test without extracting fetal DNA from the womb; rather this new DNA test isolates and analyses fetal DNA that circulates in the maternal peripheral blood stream. To provide sampling for this test a simple blood draw from the mother is required. laboratory analysis of maternal blood samples containing fetal DNA is extremely complex and requires very advanced genetic fingerprinting technology. In fact, unlike conventional DNA tests which rely on analysis of repeated sequences of DNA known as short tandem repeats, non invasive prenatal testing analyses what are known as single nucleotide polymorphisms.

Amniocentesis Paternity Testing

Non Invasive prenatal Paternity Testing

Risk free and safe for the baby: non invasive prenatal paternity testing

Amniocentesis is a well-known procedure and was mostly carried out to detect genetic illnesses; however, this type of baby DNA test can also be used to solve paternity issues. The test involves putting the patient under localized anesthetic as a needle is needed to puncture the abdomen and draw out amniotic fluid from the sac with envelopes the fetus. In order to puncture the correct place, the doctor uses an ultrasound to guide him or her.

Although the incidence of miscarriage is very low following amniocentesis, the risk is nevertheless there. Other consequences may be vaginal bleeding and infection.

To establish paternity, a DNA profile is drawn up from the loose fetal cells found in the amniotic fluid drawn out. It is very important to also have a sample from the mother which can easily be got by taking a mouth swab sample from the mother. This is because the amniotic fluid will provide a mixed DNA profile as it contains the baby’s DNA and the mother’s. For the paternity test, the father’s DNA profile will be compared to that of the unborn child. If all the genetic markers match, than the alleged father will be included as the child’s biological father.

Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) Paternity Testing

This is another invasive procedure that can be used for your baby DNA test and allows the possibility of being carried out earlier in the pregnancy. A doctor enters through the vagina to gather a sample of the chorionic villi which are protrusions involved in the exchange of blood between mother and baby. Again there are certain risks including infection and miscarriage.

Ethical implications of baby DNA testing

Once you receive the results informing you about the paternity of the child, what then? So the child’s father is not who you hope it would be? Do you terminate the pregnancy? In terms of abnormalities in the baby, if you find out the unborn child will not be normal? It is a complex issue that has sparked much debate as has the minor risks associated with these invasive procedures.

Baby DNA Testing: Is it a case of Better now than later?

Securing the rights of a child is crucial. Any child, depending on the country, is entitled to certain social benefits and legal security. Moreover, there are also issues of citizenship as well as inheritance laws. Essentially, however, the reasons for carrying out a pre-natal paternity test as opposed to a post natal test a few months after are personal and often involve the need to reduce anxiety and solve the paternity issue as soon as possible. After the birth of a child, most countries have a time frame within which a child’s father must be registered on the birth certificate. The time frame is big enough to allow for a DNA paternity test after the birth of the child.

One must weigh all the pros and cons, the fact that they will likely need a doctors consent, the possible after effects, the ethical debates, the cost and the baby and then decide whether to do the baby DNA test or not. The issue is quite thorny and not as clear-cut and simple as paternity testing after the birth so that many DNA testing companies do not offer paternity testing before birth.

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DNA Testing used in the Case of Dominique Strauss Kahn

Posted on | June 9, 2011 | No Comments

Dominique Strauss Kahn; the defense has requested the results of DNA tests. The managing director of IMF (International Monetary Fund), Dominique Strauss Kahn, is facing trial after being accused of the alleged rape of a waitress in a hotel in New York. Several DNA tests were carried out on the scratches and other marks found on the victim and Strauss Kahn.

The trial held in the Manhattan Criminal Court, with DSK  (as he is sometimes referred to) age 62, appearing in handcuffs and escorted by the police. The International Monetary Fund, IMF, which Kahn was the managing director, is in a difficult situation because of this problem – a very unfortunate situation because the IMF is to address the chronic crisis of the euro which seeks to prevent a relapse into depression that could make the euro collapse.

In addition to this, Strauss Kahn, the French Socialist Party representative, was a clear favorite for the next elections in 2012, now leaving a political vacuum that could lead to serious consequences. After this, another victim, Tristane Banon, has filed charges claiming to have been attacked 8 years ago by the IMF’s managing director during her visit to his residence for an interview.

Strauss Kahn was arrested on the plane just before takeoff by officials. He was sitting in his first class seat on Air France to Paris. Later, Strauss Kahn was identified by the victim in a lineup with 5 other men.
DNA tests will be used as a key for the determining whether the alleged violation took place. Samples were taken from the room that was occupied by Strauss Kahn, bath, bed and other areas where forensic experts can find DNA evidence that could support the rape case against Strauss Khan. The scratches found on the body of Strauss Kahn also undergo DNA testing.

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Predictive Genetic Testing

Posted on | April 20, 2011 | No Comments

 Predictive genetic testing is a huge leap ahead in the field and genetic illnesses. Perhaps knowing what genetic illnesses your parents and grandparents suffered from is a good indication of whether you will suffer from the illnesses too. If a parent of yours had Alzheimer’s you stand a much higher chance of developing the illness. Other conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure are also known to run in families.

Family history of genetic illnesses is not however, very reliable. Many illnesses can skip generation or a are too unpredictable to be traced down a blood line. Medical professionals are able to take simple blood samples or saliva samples and carry out DNA genetic testing. Genetic health tests will trace the mutations in a person’s genetic makeup that are disease-causing.

There are reasons why People want to carry out genetic predisposition testing

 If you are planning a family carrying out a predictive genetic test can inform future parents about the genetic risks their child will carry or simply the chances that any genetic illnesses the parents carry will be transferred to the child. In the cases of some diseases, if both parents carry the genes, the chances of the child inheriting and developing the illness treble. In such cases, parents might want to consider alternatives such as adoption.

Some people just want to carry out predictive genetic tests because they want to know whether they carry any disease causing genes, hoping that they can make small changes to their life to impede the diseases from developing. Predictive genetic testing test for a range of autoimmune diseases; to some ethical concerns abound.

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Can Paternity testing be done using Blood groups ?

Posted on | March 17, 2011 | No Comments

Paternity testing has undergone many changes over the decades. We can trace its course beginning with the most simple technique in which blood groups of father and child where compared and move on to the present day method which involves using DNA.

Paternity testing with Blood Groups

The blood grouping system was used for a while to determine paternity. This was one of the earliest methods used but has today been phased out completely. Blood groups cannot be used to pin point a father as the biological father of a child. A child cannot have a blood group antigen that one or both of his parents does not have. But a father and child sharing the same blood group does in no way indicate that that man is the real father of the child- millions of men would in fact, have the same blood group and could all be potentially the child’s real dad. The blood group system to determine paternity is thus, only useful to exclude individual as being the biological dads.

Moreover, with the ABO blood group system, there are only 4 different blood groups and groups A and O are very common. The implications of this are clear: even if the father’s blood group matches that of the child, it does not conclusively mean he is the biological father unless the mother is certain there is no other possibility. Paternity testing with blood groups has become obsolete as it is not half as reliable and practical as the DNA paternity test.

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Paternity Testing Myths

Posted on | February 17, 2011 | No Comments

Here are some of the most common paternity testing myths. There are many more which could be tackled as people still have several misconceptions.

Paternity testing must be done at a specialized clinic

Nowadays you do not need to go to any clinic to get a paternity test. You can opt for the extremely diffused home paternity DNA test kit. The company you select will send you a home DNA test kit. Inside the DNA sampling kit you find everything you need to collect DNA samples. You do not need to be a rocket scientist to collect a DNA sample. It is, in fact, so quick and simple that people often wonder if it is even feasible. Using sterile mouth swabs which are rubbed inside the mouth is the method used for collecting samples. It is approved by scientists and analysts as being the best method and simple enough for me and you to use.

Paternity Testing is a lengthy process

Generally, this is far from the truth. Paternity testing actually takes a short time. Once you have sent your DNA samples for analysis you can expect to get your results in just 5-7 working days. Also, many companies offer an express paternity testing service which means your results are ready and available in just 2 working days. Ultimately, the time frame from when you order your test till the results it very short. However, this also depends on who long it takes for the DNA samples to be sent by the client back to the lab and sometimes considerations in postal delays may also be necessary.

DNA Paternity testing can be used in court

This is true. Paternity test results can be used in court. However, you need to watch out for which paternity test you choose. You can do either a legal paternity test or a peace of mind/ at home paternity test. In terms of laboratory analysis and methodology and the result itself there is no difference between the two tests. What changes is the method in which the samples are collected. Again, they are both the same in that sterile oral swabs are used. But with a legal paternity test, you do not collect samples yourself, you get a professional to do it and certify that the people from which the DNA samples have been taken. Since there is a considerable difference in cost, unless you are sure you need court admissible results, the added costs of the legal paternity testing are not worth it. Do an at home DNA test!!

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How do I collect DNA samples?

Posted on | January 11, 2011 | No Comments

“How do I collect my DNA samples?”Well it may sound complex and tedious but people are often amazed at how easy it is to collect DNA for a test, whether it be a paternity test or any other type of DNA test.

If all parties are willing to be tested

Well this is the simplest scenario. If all parties are willing to be tested you can just do everything via the use of a DNA kit. The kit is sent to your home (hence, referred to as an at home paternity test) and inside it you have the necessary to collect your DNA. You will be expected to collect DNA with mouth swabs. Swabs are provided in the kit- these are sterile and all they require is being rubbed in the mouth, ideally against the cheeks and under the tongue.

There are a few basic steps/ guidelines to follow which include not smoking or drinking before you take your DNA samples. Once you have done the entire sample collecting, you can just post samples off to the lab. It is all so simply to do but whether it is a relationship DNA test, an immigration test or even a paternity test for legal purposes, swabs are used for the sample collection.

How do I collect my Samples? Not everyone is available for the test

It is not uncommon to require a DNA sample from someone but for some reason or another, that person is not available for the test. In such cases, you may wish to submit another DNA samples belonging to that person- perhaps hair you have from a deceased father or maybe some nail clippings. You need to fully consult the DNA testing company before sending in samples so that they can advise you about “how to collect DNA samples”

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A Court Ordered Paternity Test

Posted on | November 30, 2010 | No Comments

Court ordered paternity tests are often needed especially in cases where the father refuses to acknowledge that he is the biological father of a child and refuses to provide child support.

Not taking responsibility for a child means having to go to court and get a judge to issue a court order for the paternity test. The father will have to take the paternity test as refusal to submit to the test will carry other serious legal implications- if the alleged father is shown to be the biological father of the child then he will have to provide the child support as decreed by the court.

Normally, going about getting a court ordered or legal DNA paternity test, means paying for a lawyer to represent your case and petition to the judge for the DNA paternity test (test de paternitate). If you do not have the money for this, there are organizations which can help or sometimes, depending on the country, the court may be able to provide you with a lawyer and cover the fees. However, you will need to have a sound case as a mother to take a given man to court and strongly support your claim as to this man being the biological father of your child.

Once the court has issued the order:

The mother, alleged father and child will need to submit DNA samples. In some rare instances, the court might require blood samples to be taken, but most commonly it is a saliva DNA sample taken using a mouth swab. The mother will be encouraged for inclusion in the legal paternity testing to maximize the accuracy of the paternity test results.

The Court Ordered Paternity Test

In some cases, you can just do a legal paternity test which is not necessarily court ordered. Whichever the case a paternity test needed for legal reasons has to be done under strict supervision. This is to make sure that the DNA samples submitted are those of the people who should really be taking part in the test. The procedure is known as a chain of custody and this makes your paternity test court admissible.

A court ordered paternity test will allow you to get child maintenance and conclusively show that the alleged father is truly the biological dad of the child/children.

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Mitochondrial DNA testing

Posted on | October 28, 2010 | No Comments

Mitochondrial DNA testing has 2 main uses which will here be discussed briefly.  This type of DNA is commonly refered to by the shorter MtDNA testing.

Nuclear DNA and Mitochondrial DNA

All cells contain 2 types of DNA. The most abundant is Nuclear DNA. This is the DNA that carries tens of thousands of our genes and by far the most complex. This DNA is found in an organelle known as the nucleus which can be thought of as “the control centre” of the cell. Nuclear DNA has a double helical structure and its complexity has provided decades of research for scientists. This type of DNA is used for paternity DNA tests and most of the DNA tests available nowadays.

Mitochondrial DNA is found in a different part of the cell; the cell mitochondria to be specific. This part of the cell is responsible for producing energy from food necessary for the cell to function and is of course, used for an MtDNA test.

Both these DNAs are found in the same cell and thus, DNA testing either type of DNA is simple and is commonly done using a sterile mouth swab.

Inheritance and mitochondrial DNA testing

MtDNA, or Mitochondrial DNA is passed from any mother to both her male and female children. It is only females that pass on this type of DNA; fathers have MtDNA that they inherited from their mother but do not pass it on to their children. MtDNA has a low mutation rate and generally remains unchanged from generation to generation. That means that two women who share the same DNA have a common maternal ancestor.  Mitochondrial DNA can easily be used to test both distant maternal ancestors as well as to establish whether two people share the same mother or any other common maternal line.

Moreover, MtDNA copies are found in greater numbers making it more likely to extract DNA successfully especially in very old remains where nuclear DNA will have been almost completely destroyed.

MtDNA is also important in criminal investigation when a corpse is found. Sometimes identification can be difficult for a number of reasons; perhaps the body has been burned or left to decompose for far too long. Often, it is used to help exclude missing individuals and unidentified remains. Thus, if a body is found, Mitochondrial DNA testing will involve comparing the MtDNA of relatives of a missing person to see whether there is a match.

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Paternity Fraud

Posted on | October 8, 2010 | No Comments

Nowadays, despite paternity DNA tests being so widely available, cases of paternity fraud are still rampant. Paternity testing has come a long way; it has become a legal tool that can help conclude whether an alleged father is the biological father of a child or not and thus, either free him of any financial obligations towards the child or get him to pay them.

Paternity Fraud in a nutshell

Paternity fraud happens when a mother names a man as the biological father of the child knowing very well that this man is not the father or suspecting that he may not be. Paternity fraud is a serious crime. Think of the terrible turmoil it leaves behind when a case is uncovered- the biological father has been deprived of his child; the child has been deprived of his or her biological father; the non-biological dad has invested time and emotions in bringing up a child that is not his and the list goes on.

The problem is that in most countries there is a time frame within which a father can challenge paternity after that, should suspicions arise, challenging paternity becomes difficult and a big, convoluted legal journey. Moreover, challenging paternity is a serious breach of truth between a couple and can create immense problems; thus, many steer clear of this.

Paternity testing to solve doubts

A father suspecting that a baby may not be in fact his can begin by quickly taking a paternity tests and depending on the country, can do this without the consent or knowledge of the mother. In other countries, the mother’s consent would be required. Depending on the time frame the laws allows, the alleged father might be pressed for time as registering the name of the father on the birth certificate must often happen quickly.

Paternity testing has been used in countless cases to get a father to take on their paternal responsibilities.  Using the test to free a father from child support for a child that is not his is not half a simple.

One can argue that ceasing to provide child support may mean breaking a bond between father and child; however, it must be said that in many cases, these father do not have any strong emotional bonds with the child and often already have a family of their own.

Fatherhood is not solely a matter of biology. Fathers have for centuries been forced into overseeing and paying for children that are not theirs- unwittingly. Luckily, paternity testing has really come to the rescue and in some US states it can be used at any point in court by a father wishing to prove he is not the biological father and free himself of child support. Paternity fraud is taken very seriously by the law.

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Can I do a DNA Paternity Test in Australia?

Posted on | August 24, 2010 | No Comments

homeDNAdirect Australia specialises in providing accurate and reliable DNA paternity tests. The company has over 7 years of experience in the field of DNA testing. We are proud to have come this far and will continue striving to offer the best possible service throughout Australia. One of the main test homeDNAdirect specializes in is the DNA paternity test.

homeDNAdirect offers accredited paternity testing in Australia. Our portfolio of tests includes various relationship tests and infidelity testing using various DNA samples which might include hair DNA testing or blood DNA testing. All tests are carried out in accredited laboratories which follow the strictest and most scientific procedures which are constantly being revised and updated. The main accrediting bodies which are internationally recognized are ISO 17025 and AABB; these are specifically designated to laboratories carrying out just these kinds of tests.

HomeDNAdirect Australia has offices in Longanholme, Queensland and Chatswood, New South Wales. The location and efficiency of our offices means that we are able to provide our DNA testing kits anywhere in Australia including Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra and Sydney. Kits contain everything you need to do your test.

Using a DNA home-kit means being able to collect samples in the comfort of your own home and then just sending off the DNA samples you yourself collected for laboratory testing. DNA samples are collected using mouth swabs. Your paternity test results with homeDNAdirect Australia will be ready in just 5-7 working days. To make life easier and shorten turnaround times it is also possible to select the express testing option for most tests; in fact with express you can have them in just 2 working days. If you want to know more about the paternity report why not visit sample paternity test results.

  It is possible to carry out ancestry DNA testing, MtDNA tests and DNA tests using tiny, old, perhaps even degraded DNA samples. The  paternity DNA test is in big demand across the continent but people are also becoming more aware of the diverse number of DNA tests available.

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