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Paternity Testing - Dr.
Colucci
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PATERNITY
TESTING
and MOLECULAR
MEDICINE
APPLICATION
SUPPORT 1) Paternity
testing AKonsult can
provide
for the DNA
analysis for
paternity
identification
and
forensic medicine DNA
fingerprinting
analyses. The DNA is
isolated
from peripheral
blood or body
tissues/fluids
and
is
analysed in our
partner
laboratories
in
Switzerland
and Italy
making use of a
comprehensive
panel
of
informative
microsatellite
markers
and
interpretation
tools. In
a typical case,
peripheral
blood
is
taken by
conventional
venipuncture
from all
the
interested
parties,
mother, child and
alleged
father(s),
either
in one of our
reference
laboratories
or blood
can
be
taken
by a
professional nurse and
mailed
to us.
Subsequently,
it is
processed for DNA
isolation
and
analysis.
In a 3-4 weeks
time frame, the
individual
DNA
profiles
are generated
and compared
between
mother and
child,
and child and
alleged father(s).
The
individual
marker
alleles, which
the child has not
inherited
from
the
mother, are looked
for in the DNA
from the
alleged
father(s).
Depending on
whether or not a
match is
found,
paternity
is excluded or
confirmed. In
this
case the
probability
of paternity
for the alleged
father
is
calculated
using the
adequate
statistical
tools and a
detailed
report prepared
and issued.
From the
first
meeting
with Dr.
Giuseppe Colucci it
will
take 8 weeks
to
get a
reliable
response to the
pressing
question of
paternity.
AKonsult can provide for a Consultation Service in the context of paternity disputes, covering all the steps, laboratory, technical and legal, to be undertaken in litigation cases with respect to paternity. This includes defining an a priori probability of paternity of alleged father(s), identifying the proper type of action with regard to when and how perform the tests, work in close contact with a given Court's technical advisers and laboratories. Dr. Giuseppe Colucci can be appointed as expert witness for an involved party and critically assess the paternity testing procedures performed in order to ensure the integrity of the results obtained by the court's appointed laboratories for a given involved party or individual.
Background information on Paternity Testing
The development of sensitive nucleic acid (DNA/RNA) detection techniques and the identification of highly polymorphic genetic markers has revolutionised the area of paternity testing and of forensic medicine. DNA fingerprinting, that is the possibility of typing individuals at the genetic level, has become the method of choice for solving paternity issues or disputes, and it has been established as well as the tool to identify (and relating to a given suspect) the biological traces found f.e. at a the scene of crime. For both applications, DNA is isolated from venous blood or other types of tissue or body fluids and is analysed with several genetic markers, usually consisting of mini- (VNTR) or microsatellites (STR). These are sequences that differ by a variable number of repeated nucleotides. They can be separated into a variety of different molecular forms known as alleles and hence allow the identification of individual specific patterns.
A combined genetic profile can thus be obtained. It may, or may not, match with that of either the alleged father or, in forensic applications, of the crime suspect. The probability of a match (or of paternity) is calculated by using statistic formulas and this taken as a decision base to confirm or exclude a so-called significant match. With the currently available VNTR or STR markers it is possible to reach probabilities close to 100% (99,99999%) with a high degree of confidence in the results. Several effective quality control procedures are used, including retesting a previously typed DNA samples, adding specific allele ladders and amplifying X and Y chromosome markers for sex identification. Should you wish to obtain further information, please fill out the form provided in "Contact us"
Some key
references
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2) Molecular
medicine application support. AKonsult can
identify the best
molecular tools which
can contribute
to a more effective
clinical diagnosis,
prognosis and
monitoring of disease
states; thus, we
can assist in the
selection and
interpretation of
molecular data in a
clinical setting. Based on an
expertise developed over
many years of
pioneering work
in this field, Dr.
Giuseppe Colucci can
provide advice
in the definition of
clinical
indications for molecular
tests and identify the
proper
applications and
laboratory procedures,
as well as and
the most reliable
molecular reference
laboratories, and
review and
interpret your
data.
Background information or molecular medicine application support
Molecular medicine is a new term used more and more often to define the application of molecular biology techniques to the study of the pathogenetic mechanism of human diseases. Prompted by the human genome project, new technologies and applications have been developed that facilitate the identification of hundreds of genes associated with mono- and polygenic inheritable diseases. In addition to genetic disorders, such as cystic fibrosis, thalassemia and polycystic kidney disease, more complex diseases, including Alzheimer, diabetes and myocardial infarction, have been linked to specific gene mutations or HLA polymorphisms. This has opened new research avenues for a better understanding of disease pathogenesis, and to identify pre-symptomatic individuals at risk. One of the major objectives is the development of gene therapy procedures to correct the original genomic alterations.
Moreover, the analysis of these gene products and their interplay with the target cell(s) is a new tool pharmaceutical companies are using to develop new and more specific therapeutic agents to increase the effectiveness of the therapy management.
Several diagnostic tests are already used to identify carriers of a given genetic disease. In prenatal diagnosis, these tests are used to define genetic profiles (haplotypes) of individuals at risk of contracting certain chronic or neoplastic diseases.
See for
further reference for
example
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