| Since its discovery 20 years ago, the use
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| | concerned, as well as individual's ethnic
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| of DNA for human identity and
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| | background.
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| relationship testing has emerged as a
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| | The first time DNA testing was used for
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| powerful tool in both civil and criminal
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| | identity purposes was in the landmark
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| justice systems. DNA testing can reveal
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| | immigration case Sarbah vs. Home Office
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| whether two or more individuals are
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| | (1985). In this case, DNA testing was
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| related as well as determining the nature
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| | used to prove the mother-son relationship
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| of their relationship. Today, it is
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| | between Christiana Sarbah and her son
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| possible to identify people by a single
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| | Andrew. Now, the Home Office accepts DNA
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| hair, as well as obtain information about
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| | testing as a virtually unquestionable
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| their gender and ethnic background, and,
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| | proof of relatedness. The results will
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| within the next couple of years, identify
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| | normally (although not invariably)
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| their age.
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| | provide conclusive evidence as to whether
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| Before the advent of DNA testing, human
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| | individuals in question are related as
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| identity testing was largely carried out
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| | alleged.
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| through blood typing. DNA analysis has
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| | UK Child Support Agency extensively uses
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| now superseded blood testing and is the
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| | DNA testing for establishing who the
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| most accurate method currently available
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| | biological parent of the child is for
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| for human identification.
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| | purposes of providing child maintenance
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| The possibility that DNA could be used
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| | and support. Child support is one the
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| for human identity and relationship
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| | main areas of non-criminal DNA testing.
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| testing had been discussed from the time
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| | Child adoption is another area where DNA
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| DNA was first revealed as the molecule
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| | testing is widely applied. Currently, UK
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| which makes people unique. Yet, it was
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| | adoption agencies adopt children into
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| not until the discovery of DNA
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| | families which match their ethnic
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| fingerprinting by Prof. Alec Jeffreys
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| | background. Sometimes, it is difficult to
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| (now Sir Alec) of Leicester University in
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| | determine the ethical background of the
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| 1984 when the first practical testing
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| | child and here DNA testing can help.
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| system became available. As with
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| | People of different races and ethnic
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| conventional fingerprinting, where
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| | groups have common facial and other
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| various loops and whorls are compared
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| | features which are typical for this
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| between two fingerprints, DNA testing
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| | particular race or group. The same is
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| relies on comparing certain DNA features
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| | also true for their genetic
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| called DNA markers between two
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| | characteristics. Various racial and
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| individuals. If DNA patterns between the
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| | ethnic groups have genetic markers
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| samples are identical, then they are
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| | specific to these groups. When analysing
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| likely to come from the same person. If
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| | these markers, it is possible to tell the
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| the profiles are not identical but big
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| | proportion of individual's ancestors who
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| similarities are observed, then the
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| | came from specific ethnic groups. It is,
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| samples most probably come from related
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| | however, impossible to pinpoint at what
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| individuals. The degree of the similarity
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| | stage the particular ancestors
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| between DNA profiles is a representation
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| | contributed their DNA and also their
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| of the degree of relatedness between
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| | number. For example, the results of
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| people.
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| | ethnicity DNA testing can show that an
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| Currently, DNA testing is routinely used
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| | individual has 20% of markers specific to
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| for both criminal and non-criminal
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| | northern Europe, 50% to the Middle East,
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| applications. However there is a major
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| | 10% to the Mediterranean and 20% to
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| difference between DNA testing for civil
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| | sub-Saharan Africa. Using this
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| and for criminal cases. For civil cases,
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| | information the family with the closest
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| DNA testing is predominantly used to
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| | ethnicity to the child can be chosen.
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| determine relationship between
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| | Avi comes from an international business
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| individuals while for criminal cases a
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| | background with Citibank where he
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| crime scene stain has to be matched to
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| | specialised in managing projects in
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| the suspect.
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| | London, Europe, South America and Asia
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| In non-criminal legal practice, DNA
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| | Pacific. In 2004 he was awarded the
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| testing is used primarily for immigration
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| | prestigious Shell Live Wire Entrepreneur
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| and child support cases. In 2004, more
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| | of the Year award for his business.
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| than 7,000 DNA tests were conducted for
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| | Working closely with the charities and
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| these purposes in the UK. Where no
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| | various media outlets Avi strives to
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| reliable documentary evidence is
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| | increase public awareness as to the
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| available, DNA testing can assist in
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| | benefits of DNA testing and the
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| determining varying degrees of
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| | continuing impact that technological
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| relatedness between individuals
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| | advances will have on all our lives.
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