9781422273425

DNA Profiling Specialties DNA profiling has advanced since Dr. Alec Jeffreys first developed it in the 1980s. DNA profiling specialties and other types of DNA analysis include: • Criminal or investigative DNA profiling • Ancestry or family-relationship DNA analysis and profiling • Paternity testing for civil cases or family court • Medical research, including rare disease research • Genomics, including whole genome sequencing Most people who work with DNA samples and analysis will work in a criminal investigation division of a police or other law enforcement agency. Private businesses that offer services to law enforcement can also provide DNA testing. Some police departments send biological samples to commercial DNA testing labs for analysis. People who analyze DNA for medical research, including the development of treatments for diseases like cancer or Alzheimer’s disease, often work at universities or at government-funded research labs. Private paternity-testing facilities perform DNA testing to determine whether a person is or is not the father of a child, often for child support or family court cases. Other labs test biological samples for personal genetic information, especially to determine ancestry or genetic heritage. Several companies, including Ancestry.com and 23andMe, provide private ancestry DNA profiling services. DNA in Civil and Family Court Paternity testing using DNA can confirm whether a man is the father of a child or not. Millions of “over-the-counter” DNA paternity tests are sold each year, but they can’t be used in a court proceeding. Courts use independent lab testing and verification to determine paternity in cases of child support, divorce, and custody. Immigration applications provide another use for paternity or maternity claims. The United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Australia, and other countries ask that immigrants prove they are entitled to immigrate and are related to the people they say they are. Paternity tests to confirm relationships among family members seeking to immigrate to various countries are performed by accredited laboratories.

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DNA Profiling