The determination of parentage using deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) analysis represents a significant advancement in biological and legal fields. This process involves comparing the genetic profiles of individuals to establish biological relationships, most commonly to confirm a child’s biological father. The widespread application of this technology stems from its high degree of accuracy and reliability in identifying genetic links.
The advent of this technology was not a singular event but rather a gradual development. Early methods, pre-dating direct DNA analysis, relied on blood typing and other less precise markers. However, the true revolution began with the discovery and application of restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis in the mid-1980s. Alec Jeffreys’ work in genetic fingerprinting laid the foundation for DNA identification techniques, including those used to ascertain parentage. Refinements in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology in the late 1980s and early 1990s further simplified and accelerated the process, making it more accessible and cost-effective. Short tandem repeat (STR) analysis then became the gold standard, offering even greater precision and speed.
