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Other
situations for testing
There also other situations
in which DNA testing is necessary. Insurance or inheritance claims is one example. Many times when someone has died, leaving a large estate with
no will, people will start coming forward claiming to be relatives
of the deceased. DNA testing can prove or disprove their claims,
granting the estate to the rightful heir/s. If you're concerned
about someone fraudulently laying claim to your estate you can
preserve your DNA for future testing. Using your preserved genetic
material your executor would be able to eliminate imposters and
legitimize legal heirs.
Immigration. The U.S. State Department requires
DNA testing of family members of U.S. citizens who wish to immigrate
from other countries. Family relationships must be proven through
DNA testing in order for the family in the U.S. to sponsor those
wishing to immigrate. Without this state-of-the-art proof, immigration
and U.S. citizenship can be denied. Adoption; Adoption agencies
require both biological parents of a child to sign a release for
adoption.
In cases where paternity is in question, testing
must be done to determine paternity so the biological father can
sign over the child to the adoptive parents. This is to protect
the adoptive parents from having a biological parent come back
at a later date and take the child back. Even after the adoption
process has been completed a biological parent has rights to custody
over adoptive parents until the both biological parents consent
to the adoption.
In the case of twins, DNA testing can be used
to determine if they are "fraternal" or "identical"
twins. Fraternal twins are the result of two different eggs being
fertilized by two separate sperm and resulting in two completely
distinct and separate pregnancies in the uterus at the same time.
Identical twins are the result of one egg fertilized by a single
sperm. It then splits to form two separate but identical fetuses.
In some cases the only way to know if the babies are identical
or fraternal is through genetic testing. |
