Can I Do a Paternity Test if the Alleged Father is Dead?
DNA testing is the most reliable way of confirming the biological relationship between two individuals. The most widely applied test is the DNA Paternity test whereby an alleged father is tested to confirm whether he is the biological father of a child or not. The test is relatively straightforward to do and involves rubbing oral swabs on the inside of the mouth and submitting it to the laboratory for analysis.
However, there are situations where the alleged father is not available for testing because he has passed away. Many think that in such circumstances there is no solution to this problem and the paternity can never be established conclusively.
In reality, there are a number of options possible for confirming the identity of the father. One of them is through DNA Relationship Testing, which is similar to DNA Paternity Testing but involves testing close members of the family to confirm various types of relationships. Tests can be performed between siblings, uncle/aunt and niece/nephew and grandparents. These tests are beyond the scope of this article but are worth exploring as an option where the father is not available for testing.
In case of death, we will explore three separate scenarios and what the client needs to do in these situations:
Case 1: If the person has just died and it is still possible to obtain biological material from the body (usually this period is not more than one week from time of death), it is recommended that the Client tries to obtain (where possible) hair samples with root as well as fingernail cuttings. A technically qualified laboratory should be able to extract DNA from these samples and use the DNA to perform the paternity comparison.
Case 2: In the event that the body has already been buried, samples may be obtained in an indirect manner – for example through a toothbrush, comb (might contain useful hairs), dentures or recently smoked cigarettes. These samples are all likely to contain DNA material that can be used to perform the test. However, success in obtaining DNA from such samples depend on a number of factors most importantly the condition of the sample and how much DNA it contains (e.g. a fully smoked cigarette vs a relatively unused one.)
Case 3: In cases where the body has been buried for a number of years, and the samples available are skeletal remains, it is recommend that a bone fragment from the shaft of the femur and/or the humerus weighing approximately 2 grams and/or two teeth per individual are obtained.
The above are some of the options available. The most important element is to be able to obtain a sample from the deceased person that may contain DNA. Of course the costs and difficulties in obtaining a sample in Case 3 (e.g. body will require exhumation) are relatively higher than simply obtaining some hair or fingernails from the body. However, each case has its own specifics and one is always advised to seek advice from an expert in this field (e.g. forensic pathologist) or the company that will be used to do the testing.
Top writer Kevin Camilleri writes about dna paternity test. The author focuses on topics about dna paternity and dna testing. Additional resources and articles written by Kevin Camilleri related to dna paternity testing are accessible on the net.
Paternity Testing on Absent Fathers
DNA testing is one of the most conclusive ways available to determine paternity of any given child. By taking a sample of DNA from both the alleged father and from the child in question, high-tech DNA profiling techniques are used to match reference points across genetic markers on both samples which can lead to an accurate determination of where a genetic relationship exists.
In an ideal world, paternity testing would have available both a sample from the child and from his alleged father in order to best establish the link between them. However, in some DNA paternity testing cases the father is not available to give his DNA sample, whether through choice, or unavailability for some other reason. However, where the father is absent, it is still possible to use other DNA tests to determine whether a relationship exists.
DNA Testing on Other Direct Relatives
By performing DNA testing with other members of the family that share some of the same genes with the alleged father, it is possible to determine whether or not there is a likelihood of paternity over the child in question. Obviously the father’s sample is desired for reasons of accuracy and conclusivity, however it is more than possible (particularly with advancing testing technologies) to be able to determine paternity through shared genetic material through more distant relatives to the father. In other words, provided a relative of the alleged father is available for DNA testing, you should be able to obtain some results although this may not always be conclusive.
DNA Testing on Grandparents
In the absence of the alleged father or any separate sample of his DNA, the alleged paternal grandparents can provide the key to establishing paternity. By taking a sample from either one or both the grandmother and grandfather of the baby, it is possible to determine even in the absence of the father whether or not there is shared genetic material and consequently whether or not there is a shared relationship, i.e. parentage.
DNA Testing on Male Relatives
Y-STR testing is one of the most innovative DNA testing methods honed in recent years, tracking down the male-only Y- chromosome to establish genetic links between male children and elder vertical male relatives, for example grandfathers, great grandfathers, even great uncles by blood relationships. This can be particularly handy where the father is unavailable and direct elderly relatives have died, given that a great deal of genetic material passes unmutated from father to son throughout generations. Of course, this is however absolutely of no use for DNA testing of female children.
DNA Testing on Siblings
Alternatively siblings can also provide a close genetic match, which makes it possible to test whether or not two children are related by the whole blood, rather than half. Where there is dispute over the potential father of a child, an alleged sibling’s sample can be a good way to compare DNA to determine the extent of the relationship. The same can be said for brothers and sisters of the alleged father, who can also share some genetic material sufficient to provide a result in DNA testing of the child in question,
If your situation requires is such that you require to do the DNA testing through one of the alternatives above, it is always advisable to contact in advance the company who will be performing the DNA test and explain your case in full so that they can advise you on the DNA testing options available as well the results that can be obtained.
Top writer Kevin Camilleri writes about dna paternity test. The author focuses on topics about dna paternity and dna testing. Additional resources and articles written by Kevin Camilleri related to dna paternity testing are accessible on the net.