Genetics

Identification

Genetic testing used to determine the biological parent of a child is called DNA fingerprinting. It is also often used to help solve crimes by determining whether crime scene DNA evidence could be the same as the suspect's DNA.

DNA fingerprinting has been used to identify unknown people, such as military personnel killed in action or crime victims. DNA fingerprinting is more accurate for this purpose than dental records, blood type, traditional fingerprinting, or ID tags.

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Author:	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS	Last Updated: November 20, 2007
Medical Review:	Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine Siobhan M. Dolan, MD, MPH - Reproductive Genetics
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