Can You DNA Test Hair Without the Root to Determine Paternity?
Determining the paternity of a child is a serious matter. Both positive and negative determinations can affect the lives of individuals. Many criminal cases have been solved using DNA technology. Hair is a valuable source of DNA.
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What Is DNA Analysis
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DNA is unique to each individual. DNA analysis refers to the process of testing human DNA markers to identify or determine relationships between people.
Types of Tests
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Several types of DNA testing methods exist. Several types of DNA tests can be done on hair to determine paternity. Common types of hair DNA tests include: Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP), Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), Short Tandem Repeat (STR), and Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA).
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Considerations
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Only the hair root cells are nucleated. Most hair DNA testing methods rely on the DNA found in cell nuclei to make determinations. The hair root is the only portion of the hair fiber that contains nucleated cells.
Mitochondrial DNA Analysis
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Mitochondiral DNA tests do not require intact nuclei to process. Mitochondrial DNA analysis does not require DNA from a cell nucleus for testing. It is the only method that can effectively test hair lacking a root.
Alternatives
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There are many paternity testing options available. Alternatively, paternity can be determined using DNA from buccal/cheek swabs, blood tests, umbilical cord tests and semen samples.
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References
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