Identical or Fraternal?

Identical twins will have identical DNA profiles. Fraternal twins will have different DNA profiles and although they can be relatively similar they will not be identical. Therefore, once the DNA test is performed the profiles are compared to see whether they are identical or not.

Identical twins are formed when one egg is fertilised by one sperm, and then divides and separates into two identical cells creating two individuals with the same DNA profile.

Fraternal twins are born when two different eggs are fertilised by two different sperm. Hence the DNA profile will be different and the twins will be basically normal siblings born relatively close to each other.

When is the twin zygosity DNA test performed?

The twin zygosity DNA test is normally performed primarily for curiosity purposes as the parents or twins will want to confirm if they are identical or not. However, the results of the test may also be required for medical purposes to assess whether one twin can donate an organ or bone marrow to the other twin in the case of a transplant. In such cases, it is important to confirm with certainty whether they are identical or not to confirm the viability of the transplant.

Twin Zygosity testing and DNA Paternity Testing

When performing a DNA paternity test and twins are involved, we normally request that both children are sent for testing as we are not in a position to assess if the twins are identical or not. Technically, the possibility may exist that the mother may have slept with separate men on the same date or in proximity, and have had two separate eggs fertilised by sperm from different donors. In such cases, the two children will have different fathers.

Problems may also arise when determining paternity of a child through a DNA paternity test when the possible fathers are twins and hence have the same DNA Profile. In this case, the result for both twins will be the same and the paternity cannot be determined. Therefore in such instances the DNA paternity test will not be of any help.

A recent case which was highly publicised in the media involved a pair of twins from Missouri that were identified as the possible fathers of a little girl. Both fathers denied the paternity and requested a DNA paternity test – which of course could not distinguish the real father as they both had identical DNA. The court therefore had to decide based on the mother’s testimony.

For more information on DNA Paternity Testing and other DNA Tests contact easyDNA at www.easy-dna.com or www.easydna.co.uk

The company is promoting its services primarily through the dedicated website www.easydna.co.za created specifically for the South African market. A full list of the DNA tests as well as information about tests such as DNA paternity testing is available online through the website. In addition, all prices are quoted in the local currency to facilitate the ordering process. Customers can order their DNA paternity test kit directly from the website and make payments via credit card. Other payment options are also available upon request.

Commenting on this development, Sales and Marketing Director Andrew Alexander, said, ‘South Africa is our first market in Africa and so far the demand has been encouraging. We hope that as the demand increases we are able to open an office in other cities such as Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Durban. Our tests are very competitively priced and as usual we will work hard to provide our clients with the highest levels of customer service.”

About:

easyDNA provides reliable, accurate and confidential DNA Paternity Testing, DNA Relationship Testing and DNA Forensic Testing to both the private and public sector. EasyDNA operates through a network of offices covering a wide geographic area. All testing is performed by an ISO 17025 and AABB accredited laboratory and staff have a minimum of 5 years experience dealing directly with DNA testing thereby ensuring the highest level of competence.

Contact:
easyDNA
Level 5, Amphenol Business Centre, Thanet Way, Whitstable Kent CT5 3JF
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)870 4231030 Fax: +44 (0)870 4231031
Web: www.easy-dna.com
Email: info@easy-dna.com

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easyDNA va ofera teste de paternitate la domiciliu, care va pot linisti sufletul. Acest test va este oferit de catre laboratorul nostru acreditat, la doar EUR259.

Test de paternitate sunt analizate cu sisteme de indentificare genetica ultra moderne folosind 16 markeri genetici. Rezultatele garanteaza o acuratete mai inalta de 99.99%+. Raportul Stiintific va fi expediat doar solicitantului, pentru a ne asigura ca cazul este tratat cu stricta confidentialitate. Rezultatele sunt oferite in 5-7 zile lucratoare, din moment ce probele au fost primte la laborator.

Preturile oastre sunt foarte competitive datorita unui acord cu partenerul nostru (laborator) cu privire la volumele mari de teste. Acest lucru ne-a permis sa oferim aceste preturi avantajoase clientilor nostri.

Testul de paternitate poate fi efectuat doar cu probele prezumtivului Tata si Copil, cu toate acestea va sugeram sa includeti si probele mamei.

Pentru referinte si informatii mai detaliate, va rugam sa vizitati pagina noastra Comandati testul ADN sau expediati direct un email pentru easyDNA la adresa info@easydna.ro

DNA: Deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, is the acid within each and every one of our cells detailing everything about the way in which our bodies will function and appear. Think of DNA as the plans to your body - the blueprint to how you’re going to work. Inherited in equal measure from both the mother and the father, no two persons’ DNA is alike, making it ideal for identifying criminals from crime scene DNA evidence and for determining paternity in contentious situations.

Avuncular Test: The testing of the alleged father’s relatives alongside the sample from the child in question in determining paternity. This can be used where the father is not present or not available to give a sample for DNA testing, and can help determine (albeit with lesser accuracy) whether or not particular samples are genetically related. It is nevertheless desirable to conduct all DNA testing with the father having previously been sampled to ensure more accurate results.

Paternity Test: The most common form of DNA testing, paternity testing, establishes whether or not an alleged father does indeed share a genetic relationship with the child in question. By matching up the DNA of the mother, the father and the child in question it is possible to identify parentage by looking for a 50/50 split in genetic material from both parents.

Oral Swab: The most effective and easiest way of collecting a DNA sample. Achieved by simply scraping the swab against the inside of the cheek in order to glean genetic material from the cells of the cheeks, before being sealed and sent off to the lab for testing at which point it can be matched with additional samples from the other parties involved. Oral swabs are preferred to other samples because they are comparatively easier to read and compare.

Chromosome: The location of the genetic material (that is to say, the DNA) within each cell, in which there are 23 pairs of chromosomes in total. The male chromosomal partnership is identified as X and Y, whereas females do not possess this distinct Y chromosome. Therefore it is possible to test male relationships of a genetic nature through the Y chromosome which in itself very infrequently mutates as it is passed between father and son.

DNA Testing: The overall process by which DNA samples are compared in order to identify a particular individual in criminal, medical or legal circumstances, or purely out of curiosity. DNA testing can be used to determine paternity, or place a crime suspect at the murder scene, and has been proven to be highly effective in boosting conviction rates for serious criminal offences.

For more information on DNA Paternity Testing and other DNA Tests contact easyDNA at www.easy-dna.com or www.easydna.co.uk

In legal jurisdictions across the world paternity is often hotly disputed, and is usually resolved with DNA testing. Since the advent of the Human Rights movement, however, the test can no long usually be forced upon an individual who is alleged to be a father. Nevertheless the courts are entitled to draw a negative inference from the refusal to take a paternity test, which can negate much of the benefits otherwise attributed to the civil liberties groups. As such, DNA testing is the most widely used method of determining paternity in disputes of this nature for the legal conclusivity of the results.

Child Law
By far the most significant legal cause for determining paternity is in relation to child law issues. More often than not it will come from a mother looking to enforce parental obligations on the absconded father, or alternatively with the alleged father looking to certify his relationship with the child. Depending on jurisdiction there are often presumptions as to fatherhood which give rise automatically to the rights and responsibilities of raising a child, however these can be rebutted by leading evidence like DNA tests showing results to the contrary.

Likewise it may be important in terms of aliment and other financial contributions to the child and its mother where the identity of the father is in doubt to settle the situation with the help of a DNA paternity test, in order to ensure those eligible to pay do so and those eligible to receive payments are allowed the benefit of them.

Taxation
Depending on the jurisdiction in which you live there may be tax advantages of having a child. For example, a legal parent may have the opportunity to deduct alimentary payments to his child when done through proper legal means. Rather than informal gifts and donations which are not tax deductible, a paternity DNA test can provide legitimate channels for tax purposes within which payments for support can be made.

Inheritance
More significantly inheritance in intestacy (i.e. where there is no will) very much depends on bloodlines and relationships. This will, from time to time, require a definitive answer on the matter of a person’s heritage to determine whether or not he and his issue are entitled to a proportion of the deceased’s estate, and indeed the extent of their entitlement to the estate left over by their potential relative.

For more information on DNA Paternity Testing and other DNA Tests contact easyDNA at www.easy-dna.com or www.easydna.co.uk

1. DNA is unique to the individual concerned

It’s good to know we’re all unique. Our DNA is completely distinct from that of anyone else anywhere on the planet. It’s like our own individual serial number - whilst we may share certain digits with others, we are in essence completely unique in the make-up of our DNA. What that means is that DNA testing is an important tool to identify genetic relationships, because when we share a number of DNA matches with someone who is alleged to be a relative, it is usually very safe to assume that a genetic link exists. Additionally, this also helps support DNA testing for legal purposes, in which it is possible to use DNA as a strong measure to support alleged guilt in serious crimes such as murders and sexual offences.

2. DNA testing is easy to sample

DNA samples can be obtained really easily, which is ideal for testing small children. An oral swab of saliva or a head hair can be sufficient to provide the DNA necessary for a paternity test, with a view to establishing a biological relationship between the alleged father and the child. Rather than having to test blood types or other forms of identifying family relations, DNA samples are quick and easy to take from any age group and pose no threat to the party donating the sample.

3. Highly-detailed for easy comparison

Because of the intricate nature of DNA, it is possible to use matching of genetic data as a highly conclusive way of establishing genetic heritage. Add to this the fact that no ‘new’ alleles can be introduced that aren’t present in the mother or alleged father, and it becomes instantly clear whether or not there is a paternal relationship in place.

4. Allows DNA testing of more distant relatives for determining paternity

DNA testing, most frequently used in instances of paternity disputes, can be conducted without the need for a DNA sample from the father. What this means is that, in effect, the father need not necessarily contribute a sample of DNA where he is unavailable or unwilling to cooperate. By taking the DNA of close family members related to the alleged father it can be possible through DNA testing to determine whether a relationship does in fact exist.

5. DNA testing is cost-effective and relatively fast

DNA testing is gradually becoming more accessible to people all over the world. As competition increases and the technology improves, the price of DNA tests have come down drastically over the years. Added to this is the fact that it is quick and relatively stress-free to collect the DNA samples and send them to the laboratory, and results can be obtained relatively fast in as little as 48 hours.
As we have seen there are a number of advantages of DNA tests such as Paternity testing which have resulted in an increase in the demand for this type of testing all over the world.

For more information on DNA Paternity Testing and other DNA Tests contact easyDNA at www.easy-dna.com or www.easydna.co.uk

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.

For more information on DNA Paternity Testing and other DNA Tests visit www.easy-dna.com or www.easydna.co.uk

Preparing For the DNA Test and Collecting Samples
Normally a DNA testing kit is sent to the person who ordered the test by the company from whom the order was made. The test begins with samples being collected from everyone preparing to undertake the test. In most cases, that will mean the mother, the father (alleged) and the child concerned. Samples are taken by the way of oral swabs, which collect cheek cells which are then dried and passed on for testing. In order to prepare the sample, it is first important to make sure that the cotton of the swab never touches any other surface including your hands, and that you have a number of swabs for each person taking the test to ensure reliability in the end results. Press the swab into the inside of the cheek and behind the lips, as well as the tongue area in order to get as good as possible a sample from the mouth. Having left to dry for around an hour, the swab should be carefully sealed off before the collation and mailing process.

Testing the Samples
After all the samples have been collected and labelled accordingly, they should be sent off to the laboratory for the DNA testing analysis. At this stage, the samples will be individually examined and DNA will be extracted from within the cells present in the sample. The same will be done for both the other two parties to the test and the results of the DNA profiles will be compared.

The person analysing your results will be looking for a 50/50 split between your alleles, contained within the DNA, between those found on your mother and father. As you can only inherit genes already carried by one or both parents, no alleles can be present in the child’s DNA that are not present in that of either parent. Naturally, this is where it becomes obvious when there is and is not a genetic link between those taking the DNA test. Further to that, the results are processed through the appropriate systems and a conclusion is reached, having covered 16 of the locus which are used as the template by which samples are matched.

Receiving the DNA Test Results

Once the DNA test is completed, the result will be sent to the participants via email, letter, fax or as otherwise agreed. The DNA test report should show the individual profile of each person that submitted a sample for the paternity test. Also the result should show the percentage probability of the stated relationship, for example in a DNA paternity test this is normally in excess of 99.99%.

There’s no doubt about it - DNA testing is here to stay. Whilst most people are not very knowledgeable on how DNA paternity testing works, it is probably a good idea to gain some level of understanding given the way in which DNA testing is likely to continue to affect our lives over the coming decades. With growing calls for more extensive DNA databases and records for crime prevention, DNA testing and analysis looks set to remain at the forefront of the civil liberties/state interests debate.

For more information on DNA Paternity Testing and other DNA Tests contact easyDNA at www.easy-dna.com or www.easydna.co.uk

Arguments on both sides

On one side of the fence is the argument that a child, regardless of any other factors, has an inherent right to see both of his biological parents. Certain opinions suggest that the natural connection is far stronger than anything that can be artificially created, and that as such both the parent and the child have an in-built right to maintain contact with one another. However this view point has fallen to a number of robust criticisms. Firstly, in the context of sperm donation this produces all kinds of policy problems. Few would argue it desirable to have the ability to trace a sperm donor - sperm donation is not a commitment to fatherhood. Likewise the sperm donor should have no direct link to the child for fear that this may disrupt the family unit and hinder the child’s upbringing.

Secondly, rights correlate directly with responsibilities according to the influential theory, albeit in a judicial context, known as the Hohfeld schema. Where then, do the rights of the sperm donor correlate with responsibilities? Whilst there is a genetic link, there is no paternal link - that job’s already taken, thus the sperm donor has nothing to contribute to the bargain aside from his common genetic materials.

On the flip side, the suggestion stands that children should be allowed to grow up with their family units, and that biological relationships through sperm donation should be kept anonymous for policy reasons and to prevent eventual issues with tracking in later life. However to counter this, why shouldn’t a child’s biological father have the right to contact and access, if not at a distance, with his child? Sharing the same genes, the characteristics of the father could be adapted through DNA testing (genetic) to work out whether the child will be subject to the same medical problems or temperament issues, which could be beneficial to treating illnesses.

Sperm donator anonymity and DNA Paternity Testing

Paternity testing and DNA testing in general have become far more widespread in recent years, which could eventually lead to the issues of sperm donator anonymity being further jeopardised since a DNA paternity test will confirm with certainty who the biological father is of the child. Until then, however, the debate over the rights and responsibilities of the sperm donator in relation to his biological child looks set to rage on.

For more information on DNA Paternity Testing and other DNA Tests visit www.easy-dna.com or www.easydna.co.uk

If you are planning to do a DNA Paternity test, or any other DNA Relationship test, the following article provides you information on how to go about taking a sample of your DNA for DNA testing purposes.

The object of the exercise is to obtain a sample of cheek cells from which the scientists at the lab can extract DNA to match and identify genetic relationships.  To do this, you’re going to need to take a swab sample from all of the parties involved, that is the mother, father and the child in a traditional paternity test situation.  Don’t worry - it’s not at all painful and the whole process is very simple and straightforward.

To start with, instruct everyone partaking in the DNA test to avoid eating and drinking for at least half an hour prior to giving their sample to avoid any contamination of the sample that may negatively effect the testing.  Additionally, it’s also advisable to avoid smoking for a period of one hour prior to submitting the sample for DNA testing.

The samples once collected should be clearly marked, labelling both the name and relationship of the party involved on the envelope provided, as well as in the submission sheet you should be provided with the DNA testing kit. The samples of each person should also be kept separate to avoid any risk of cross contamination which would also negatively the results of the DNA test. Normally the envelopes provided are colour coded to provide some form of differentiation. Clear administration of the samples is of paramount importance in protecting the accuracy of the test; therefore it is critical that you follow all instructions contained within your DNA kit sample pack.

When it comes to actually taking the samples, you will require two cotton swabs per person to ensure that in the event one of the swabs does not work, a second sample is available.  With the swab end kept free from contact with anything that may contaminate the DNA, rub firmly against the inside of the cheek and tongue to gather saliva and cells which will contain the vital DNA material. In isolation from potential contaminants, and having refrained from touching the cotton end of the swab, the swab should be allowed a minimum period of around 60 minutes to dry off before it is sealed ready to go to the lab.  Repeat this process for all the swabs required for each person taking the paternity test.

Once you’ve collected all the relevant samples and filled in the necessary documentation, it is time to send the pack off to the laboratory performing the DNA testing.  It is normally advisable to send the DNA samples through a postal method that can be tracked such as registered mail or courier to ensure it arrives at the DNA testing laboratory.

Depending on how long your particular choice of testing laboratory tends to take, you could be waiting anywhere from a number of days to a number of weeks for the results of the DNA test to arrive.

For more information on DNA Paternity Testing and other DNA Tests contact easyDNA at www.easy-dna.com or www.easydna.co.uk