subject: Role Of Dna Testing In Legal Arena [print this page] The role of DNA testing in law enforcement is significant. Availability of DNA testing techniques helps investigating agencies to solve criminal cases. Moreover, the results of DNA tests are accepted by the courts to pinpoint criminal convicts. DNA testing helps to determine genetic relationships accurately and thereby helps to confirm a suspect by providing positive identification with any genetic material found at the scene of the crime.
Items such as fingerprints, blood samples, sweat droplets or even hair strands are often used to pin down criminals in a court. These items contain DNA that can disclose the identification of a culprit. The arrangement of DNA in every individual is different and unique and can be used to spot criminals.
Use of DNA Paternity Test in solving legal cases Utility of DNA testing does not limit to just determining who fathered a child. It can answer a lot of questions in legal matters. For instance,
When deciding if an alleged father needs to support a child, DNA Paternity test results are crucial. Likewise, a paternity test can come in handy to resolve visitation rights and custody battles.
Another important issue that can be resolved easily with DNA testing is citizenship. If a man is a legal US citizen having grown children in another country, by proving their paternity, those children too can become US citizens.
Adopting a child requires the consent of both parents. Hence before accepting a child, most adoption agencies do a paternity test as a mandatory process. This helps to determine who the biological father is and thereby avoid legal issues in future.
Thanks to the availability of cheap DNA tests, solving paternity suits has become lot easier for the authorities concerned.
Role of DNA Testing in Estate Litigation It is obvious that if a person dies intestate (without leaving a legal will), the assets go to his closest kin. DNA relationship testing is a great way to prove the relationship. In case, several people appear to claim assets, analyzing the samples of DNA of the person making the claim and that of the deceased will reveal the truth.
Living DNA samples can be collected via a cheek swab whereas to obtain DNA samples from the deceased, strands of hair or blood samples are used. If DNA sample cannot be obtained from the deceased, it can be obtained from other family members too. The court relies on legal DNA test results collected by a qualified third party and carried out by an accredited lab and such results will be enough to resolve such cases.
In many legal scenarios like inheritance dispute, family relationship becomes more important to the outcome of a case. DNA testing plays a vital role in providing the necessary proof for determining the correct legal outcome as no other method can compare the accuracy of DNA testing for determining relations accurately.
So, forensic testing, paternity testing or sibling testing, cheap DNA testing is a cost effective as well as accurate way to solve criminal cases or the existence of alleged relationships.
