Question

Two men may be the father of a child. This figure shows the results of a DNA fingerprint analysis to determine paternity. M is the mother, C is the child, A and B are the two men. What is the best interpretation of these results? _____

A) The man identified as A is probably the father.
B) Neither man is this child's father.
C) Either man could be this child's father.
D) The man identified as B is probably the father.
E) Paternity cannot be determined from this data.

Answer 1

To establish paternity using DNA fingerprinting, all bands in the child's DNA not from the mother must be present in the father's profile. DNA evidence is pivotal in forensic science for confirming familial relationships and solving criminal cases.

Step-by-step explanation:

To determine paternity using DNA fingerprinting, the child's DNA profile must contain bands that are present in both the mother and the suspected father. The child inherits one half of their DNA from the mother and the other half from the father. In paternity testing, if the man is the father, each band in the child's DNA fingerprint that is not found in the mother's profile should have a corresponding match in the father's profile.

The case study provided references to a scenario where DNA analysis confirmed a familial relationship in an immigration case. This illustrates the power of DNA evidence in resolving issues where relatedness needs to be established. Similarly, forensic geneticists utilize DNA matches between a suspect and crime scene samples to verify involvement.

In summary, forensic scientists use DNA fingerprints to match individuals and determine relationships with high precision, except in cases of identical twins where the DNA is indistinguishable.