There can be a number of perfectly valid reasons why any of us would wish to opt for DNA paternity tests, the one way to determine the biological relationship of parent and child (or lack thereof) between any two given individuals. The test uses genetic fingerprinting to get irrefutable proof of a person being the father or mother of a given individual. There could be several reasons why a person may decide to opt for a paternity test:
Peace of Mind
At times, not knowing something can literally destroy your peace of mind. When it is a doubt regarding paternity the uncertainty can be killing! With a DNA paternity test, you can put your mind at ease about the relationship in question, one way or the other. The link between a father and child can be established with or without the involvement of the mother; equally a link between mother and child can be established in a manner that is 100% conclusive, leaving no room for doubt or suspense.
It is possible to do DNA testing at any age; a child doesn’t have to be of any minimum age to get tested. In fact it is also possible to obtain a DNA test result of a fetus prior to birth; i.e. prenatal testing that can even be done in the earlier stages of pregnancy (at about 10 to 12 weeks gestation).
DNA Testing as per Court Requirement
Sometimes there is the need to establish a relationship legally or in the eyes of a court; as a requirement of law. In such cases, only those test results are admissible in court, which have been obtained from approved testers or agencies.
Testing to Check Genetic Predisposition
With the remarkable strides mankind has taken in science and medicine, it is possible to predict one’s genetic predisposition towards many conditions. Are you more likely to have heart related problems; are you more prone to certain cancers, obesity, diabetes and other problems? DNA testing can help to shed light on this, and help determine what genetic mutations an individual is carrying.
A DNA test maps the unique genetic profile of each individual who is subjected to the test. For this it is necessary to get samples of a person’s cells; and it is the inside of the cheeks that the cell sample is usually obtained from. It is possible to obtain such cell samples at home without visiting a clinic by the use of DNA testing kits. The samples can then be sent to the lab for testing and obtaining a report.
