Question

How does DNA fingerprinting help in settling the paternity disputes?

Answer 1

A child inherits DNA from both biological parents. DNA fingerprinting compares the child’s polymorphic DNA markers, such as VNTR patterns, with those of the mother and the alleged father.

The child’s bands that are not accounted for by the mother should match bands inherited from the biological father. A consistent match across many independent markers supports paternity; multiple incompatible markers can exclude the alleged father. Samples may be obtained from any suitable nucleated cells, and the analysis should be interpreted with appropriate laboratory controls.

Thus, DNA fingerprinting provides strong biological evidence for identifying or excluding a putative father.