On prenatal paternity testing using SNPs.

What is SNP?

Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) is a type of point mutation in which one base is replaced by another in a DNA sequence. SNPs are very common in human genetic information and are important markers of genetic differences between individuals. By analyzing these SNPs, parent-child relationships and an individual’s genetic background can be studied.

What is a prenatal paternity test?

Prenatal paternity testing confirms who the father is by analysing the foetus’ DNA.Traditional methods usually test for parent-child relationships after birth, but modern technology allows the parent-child relationship to be verified even during pregnancy.

Methods of prenatal parentage testing using SNPs.

Fetal DNA sample collection:.

In prenatal paternity testing, free DNA (cfDNA) of foetal origin in the blood of a pregnant woman is collected. This DNA enters the pregnant woman’s bloodstream from around the sixth week of pregnancy and can therefore be obtained non-invasively by a blood test.

DNA samples taken from mother and presumed father:.

DNA samples of the mother and presumed father are also taken.These are usually done using swabs taken from the mucous membranes of the mouth.

SNP analysis:.

Fetal cfDNA is compared to DNA samples from the mother and presumed father and analysed for SNP matches; SNPs are numerous and their combination determines the genetic match.If the pattern of SNPs in the father’s DNA and the foetus’ DNA match, it is considered very likely that the man is the father.

Interpretation of results:.

Based on the results of the SNP analysis, the presence or absence of a parent-child relationship is confirmed: if the SNP match is high, it is concluded that a parent-child relationship exists.

Advantages of prenatal parentage testing using SNPs.

Non-invasive: foetal DNA samples can be taken from the pregnant woman’s blood, eliminating the need for invasive techniques such as amniocentesis or chorionic villus examination.
High accuracy: SNP analysis can determine parent-child relationships with a very high degree of accuracy and therefore provides reliable results.
Early identification: the test can be performed from the sixth week of pregnancy onwards, allowing early confirmation of parent-child relationships.

Conclusion

Prenatal paternity testing using SNPs is a non-invasive and highly accurate method widely used to confirm parent-child relationships. The technique enables safe and reliable confirmation of parent-child relationships during pregnancy, providing important information for many families.

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