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Information on DNA Testing Methods
There are two methods that laboratories use
to perform DNA testing. Both methods which have advantages and
disadvantages and can use painless saliva or swap
samples taken from inside of the mouth. DNA Swab Collection Kits
have been designed to collect specimens in the convenience of your own
home.
These methods are RFLP (restriction fragment
length polymorphism) and PCR (polymerase chain reaction).
RALPH (restriction fragment length
polymorphism) breaks the DNA structure into smaller fragments at
specific points that it then measures. The problem with RFLP is that
it requires much more material and take more time than PCR (polymerase
chain reaction). Its
advantage is that it is more accurate than PCR.
PCR takes a small
amount of material and replicates a specific region of DNA to a point
that it is measurable. PCR yields faster results but it is less
accurate than RFLP.
Test Accuracy
DNA testing does have some problems with probability calculations
because sometimes the methods produce faint and uncertain
probabilities.
Probability rate is from 99.9 % for a standard
test to 99.999% for a premium test.
Free Home Testing Kit
DNA Swab Collection Kits have been designed to
collect specimens in the convenience of your own home. Some online
DNA services offer free testing kit.
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DNA Paternity and Maternity Test
DNA testing can link a person to other person.
Thus, it can establish maternity and
paternity. DNA testing is much more of a test of exclusion than blood
typing. DNA testing does have some problems with probability
calculations because sometimes the methods produce faint and uncertain
probabilities.
DNA Twin and Siblings Test
Besides its ability to determine maternity and
paternity, DNA testing has other uses such as twin and siblings testing.
DNA testing can differentiate or similarity between siblings or
non-identical twin.
Non-identical twins occur when
separate egg cells are fertilized by separate sperm cells producing
multiple unique zygotes. Thus, DNA testing can differentiate between
them.
When a zygote divides to form two or more
separate copies of itself it creates genetically identical twins,
triplets, quads, etc. that have the same DNA. Therefore, DNA testing
cannot differentiate between these persons.
Test Cost
DNA testing did not become available until the
late 1980's but now it is available to families at a reasonable
cost. The cost of DNA testing was more than $1,000 in 1990.
Now DNA test is as low as $150 per test.
DNA testing in Canada
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