Paternity Test History
Thanks to numerous innovations in science, a paternity test is a conclusive and reliable method to determine biological ties. Scientists were able to rule out many factors, which hindered accuracy, ranging from blood types to rare blood proteins. Modern methods have introduced DNA testing which became a standard practice for paternity testing.
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Significance
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Paternity testing has emerged to establish credible biological parentage. This testing is highly beneficial for children who need vital support and protection of his rights. With all the advancements brought by the medical world, paternity testing has seen numerous changes which arrive at the most accurate results possible.
Blood Typing
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In the 1920's, the most basic method to determine paternity was blood typing. Using the A-B-O blood group system, the proteins contained in a person's red blood cells were used to pinpoint blood type. These proteins are inherited from both father and mother; however, it didn't provide accurate paternity findings. A child's blood type usually is determined by the mother, with no significant link to the blood type of the father. Blood typing only served to predict 30 percent accuracy.
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Serological Test
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The next decade used serological testing for paternity test. This method uses the Rh, Kell and Duffy blood group systems through serum testing. Incompatible proteins on the red blood cells are bound to cause reactions, especially during transplants and transfusions. Thus the child's Rh, Kell and Duffy proteins are tested to see who the father is. Again, this proved to be inconclusive, providing only 40 percent accuracy.
HLA Typing
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It wasn't until the 1970's that a more accurate paternity test method was established. HLA Typing gave 80 percent conclusive results. This time, the white blood cells were tested with close attention given to the Human Leukocyte Antigens. Children usually inherit HLA proteins from their parents, however, because HLA types can be shared with close relatives, the challenge appeared in the rarity of the father's HLA type. Ruling out the father was rather difficult if he had two or more brothers with the same HLA type.
DNA Testing through RFLP
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Luckily, the advent of DNA testing came during the 1980's. As fingerprints are not the same even for identical twins, so is the DNA of each human being. The Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) method uses enzymes mixed with purified DNA samples to create fragments. The child's DNA fragments match half of the mother's and half of the father's. RFLP testing was found to be rather tedious, and the wait for results quite long. However, the accuracy was placed at 99.99 percent.
DNA Testing via PCR
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The standard paternity test used today was established in the 1990's. DNA testing through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) took shorter time to process with few blood samples needed. The PCR method also proved more convenient to scientists and medical technologists. That's because, with just a tiny drop of blood, many DNA samples can be made. This method is now the standard form of DNA testing used for research.
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