DNA & DNA Testing
What is DNA?
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is a naturally occurring structure found in the nucleus in every cell in your body.
DNA molecules store your unique genetic information, a little bit like a code or a set of blueprints. These ‘blueprints’ contain the instructions needed to make you who you are.
DNA Testing
DNA testing has many applications, but is most commonly used to establish the paternity of a child. Paternity DNA testing is sometimes simply referred to as a paternity test, a DNA test or DNA testing.
The process of DNA testing involves analysing tiny samples of DNA, which is found in skin cells, hair roots, blood and other bodily fluids. It works on the principle that no two people share the same DNA code (with the exception of identical twins). What DNA testing does, is examine the unique genetic ‘barcode’ that distinguishes the test patient from all other human beings.
How does DNA testing work?
DNA testing basically unravels your DNA code for comparison with another sample. For example, forensic scientists compare analysed DNA with a sample of blood from a crime scene to establish whose blood it is.
This is called DNA profiling, or DNA fingerprinting and was developed in 1984 by British geneticist Sir Alec Jeffreys. DNA profiling was first used as forensic evidence in the 1988 Enderby murders case to convict the defendant Colin Pitchfork.