DNA Fingerprinting

Parentage Testing, Paternity Test

Why It Is Done

DNA fingerprinting is done to:

• Determine who a person's parents are (establish paternity). This test also may be used to identify the parents of babies who were switched at birth.
• Solve crimes (forensic science). Blood, semen, skin, or other tissue left at the scene of a crime can be analyzed to help prove whether the suspect was or was not present at the crime scene.
• Identify a body. This is useful if the body is badly decomposed or if only body parts are available, such as following a natural disaster or battle.

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Author:	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS	Last Updated: April 26, 2007
Medical Review:	Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine Renee H. Martin, PhD - Medical Genetics
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