[PCR--the step to conclusive paternity in parentage control cases in cattle]

PCR-based technology used for genotyping microsatellites is going to add new dimensions to parentage control in cattle. In the very near future the determination of microsatellite polymorphisms is expected to replace the former parentage control of conventional blood typing. Parentage control by microsatellite analysis is even more reliable than by the routine haemogenetic procedures. The potential of microsatellite polymorphisms to clarify family relationships is illustrated by 100 cases which could not be solved by conventional blood typing.