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Disputed paternity: the historical perspectives
1Institute of Science & Forensic Medicine, Singapore.
Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore
|January 1, 1993
Summary
Blood tests are crucial for resolving disputed paternity cases, covering adultery, kinship claims, and sex crime investigations. Genetic markers exclude fathers in 19% of cases, aiding legal and familial determinations.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Genetics
- Human Genetics
- Legal Medicine
Background:
- Disputed paternity cases arise from various legal and familial contexts.
- Blood group testing has historically been vital in resolving these disputes.
- Understanding inheritance laws is key to interpreting genetic evidence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To categorize the primary reasons for paternity blood testing.
- To provide an overview of blood group systems used in paternity investigations.
- To discuss the application of inheritance laws in paternity disputes.
Main Methods:
- Review of legal and familial contexts for paternity testing requests.
- Overview of venous red cell and serum blood group systems.
- Discussion of inheritance laws relevant to blood group genetics.
Main Results:
- Paternity testing requests fall into three main categories: adultery, kinship, and sex crime investigations.
- A survey of cases from 1978-1990 investigated red cell and serum genetic markers.
- An average of 5.5 cases were investigated annually, with a 19% exclusion rate for putative fathers.
Conclusions:
- Blood group investigations are essential tools in resolving paternity disputes.
- Genetic markers provide objective evidence for legal and familial determinations.
- The study highlights the significant role of forensic genetics in paternity establishment.