Maternity DNA Tests
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Test Details
This test is used to establish the biological mother of an individual.
The price includes:
1 alleged mother and 1 child.
The cost of the test also includes: Sample collection, all reports and correspondence.
Additional alleged mothers or children should be charged at the rate specified.
The Maternity Test
During a DNA Maternity test, 16 genetic locations are analysed in total. As mentioned in ‘A guide to DNA Testing’, a person possesses two (of many possible) alleles at each location. The alleles are identified by a number. These are inherited from the parents at conception. One comes from the mother and one from the father.
Therefore, when the DNA profiles of biological parents are laid out together, one of the child’s alleles (numbers) will match up with a number from the alleged mothers sample at each location analysed.
If these alleles match at all locations analysed, a person is included as the biological mother of the child because it proves they have passed these genetic markers to the child at conception.
Inconsistencies (locations where there is NO match) will exclude a person as a biological mother. This is based on the fact that it is only possible to pass on to your offspring, the alleles which you possess in your own DNA profile.
Accuracy
>99.9999 probability obtained for inclusion as a biological parent. This result means that a person is at least 1 million times more likely to be the biological parent of the child tested, than an unrelated individual from the same ethnic group.
0% probability obtained when excluded as a biological parent. This result means that there is 0% chance that the person tested is the biological parent of the child.
Test Limitations
Related Alleged Mothers
If potential mothers are closely related e.g. sisters, a sample will be required from all potential mothers.
If this advice is not followed, it may only be possible to exclude a person as the biological mother. An inclusion may be dependent on ruling out the second related party due to the fact that close relatives have more DNA in common than unrelated individuals.
Low Maternity Index
The frequency of alleles (numbers) differs within each given ethnic group and geographical population. (i.e. some are very common, some very rare.) If the alleles (numbers) that match between a child and an alleged mother are ALL very common to their origins, then this lowers the ‘Maternity Index’ and therefore the evidence of the result.
Mutations
Mutations occur randomly along the DNA molecule. It is extremely rare to see these mutations in the region of DNA analysed during a DNA test, however it is possible.
When a mutation does occur, it will cause a mismatch between the child and one of the biological parents.
If the mutation/mismatch occurs between the child and alleged mothers profile, the following will apply:
One inconsistency in a Maternity Test (when the fathers sample is not available) will produce an INCONCLUSIVE result. If this occurs the fathers sample must be tested. A conclusive result can then be issued. If this is not possible, then further points on the DNA molecule can be analysed. However, it may only be possible to exclude the alleged mother by discovering further inconsistencies i.e. the inconsistencies will be deemed not to be mutation but simply a mismatch between the samples. The alleged mother will be excluded as the biological mother. This will incur an additional fee.
Two inconsistencies the above will apply. This will incur an additional fee.
Three inconsistencies will not be mutation but simply a mismatch between the samples. The alleged mother will be excluded as the biological mother.