Trace Samples: Father Deceased

Y. needs reassurance that his father was his true biological father. Y.’s father passed away a few years ago. Y. retained several letters that his father had sent him.

Traces of his father’s DNA can be found on the underside of the postage stamps on the envelopes in which the letters were contained (traces can also be found on electric shavers, tooth brushes etc.). A test of this nature involves isolating and subsequently analysing the DNA contained in the dried saliva found on the underside of a postage stamp. The father’s DNA can then be compared with that of Y.’s.

Note: Although Y. has a sister, the father’s DNA cannot be reliably reconstructed with that of the brother and sister. It is theoretically possible that both siblings inherited opposing halves of the father’s DNA, which is why the only reliable option is the trace sample test. If necessary, further confirmation that it really was the father that moistened the stamp can be gained by additionally comparing the extracted DNA with that of the sister. If Y. had a brother, a Y-Chromosome-test would be more suitable.