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Paternity testing in a nutshell

A paternity test is conducted to prove whether a man is the biological father of another individual. This may be relevant in view of the responsibilities of the father. A maternity test can also be carried out. This is less common because at least during childbirth, it is obvious who the mother is.

An individuals DNA is almost exactly the same in each and every somatic cell. Sexual reproduction joins the DNA of both parents in a random way to create a unique combination of genetic material in a new cell. So the genetic make up of an individual is derived from the genetic material of their parents. This genetic material is known as the nuclear genome of a person, because it is found in the nucleus.

Comparing the DNA sequence of one individual to that of another, can show if one of them was derived from the other or not. Specific sequences are looked at to see if they were copied exactly from one individuals genome to the other. If so, then this proves that the genetic material of one individual was derived from that of the other, meaning one is the parent of the other. Besides the nuclear DNA in the nucleus, the mitochondria in the cells also have their own genetic material, termed the mitochondria genome.

Mitochondria DNA comes only from the mother.

Genome Geography

Proving a relationship based on comparison of the mitochondria genome is much easier than that based on the nuclear genome. Testing the mitochondria genome however, can only prove if two individuals are related by common descent through maternal lines, only from a common ancestor and is therefore of limited value which means for instance, it could not be used to test for paternity.

Discovering that a child either is or isn't one's own is something that a parent can undertake at their own expense, without informing anyone either about the test or its result. In the United Kingdom, this situation will change when the Human Tissue Act comes into force. Section 45 states that it will be an offence to possess any bodily material, with the intent that any human DNA in the material be analyzed without qualifying consent.

Tests can and have been ordered by courts, when proof of paternity is required.