Inherited alleles revealing an incestuous paternity

Area of Science:

• Forensic Science
• Genetics
• Criminal Justice

Background:

• Rape cases can lead to pregnancy, complicating investigations.
• Lack of immediate reporting or evidence may hinder perpetrator identification.
• Parentage determination via DNA analysis offers a crucial link.

Purpose of the Study:

• To resolve a rape case involving a minor victim and pregnancy.
• To identify the perpetrator using DNA analysis when other evidence was insufficient.
• To investigate potential paternity and familial relationships.

Main Methods:

• DNA extraction from blood samples of the victim, accused, and fetus.
• Autosomal Short Tandem Repeat (STR) typing across 15 loci.
• Comparative genetic analysis to determine paternity and familial links.

Main Results:

• DNA analysis excluded the accused 60-year-old man as the father of the fetus.
• Significant genetic overlap between the victim and fetus suggested incestuous paternity.
• Further DNA analysis confirmed brother-sister incest.

Conclusions:

• DNA analysis is vital for solving rape cases with pregnancy, especially with limited evidence.
• Genetic testing can uncover complex familial relationships, such as incest, in forensic investigations.
• This case underscores the power of molecular genetics in forensic science and criminal investigations.