Immigration DNA Testing: it can get complicated
Posted on | September 3, 2010 | No Comments
Evens Colas, a US citizen who originally comes from Haiti has been trying to bring his two Haitian children to the US. Requirements are clear: Immigration DNA testing to prove they are really his biological children and things proceed from there. A paternity DNA test, essential to continue immigration procedures showed that Colas was not really the biological father of the children.
The island of Haiti is now razed to the sole, overturned and churned by the devastating effects of an earthquake that has killed tens of thousands of people. The children remained in Haiti throughout their lives and were raised by their mother who died in 2004. Evens Colas, a musician, commuted between the US and Haiti where his wife and children lived. Over the years, he has tried to bring his children over to the USA.
As part of the immigration process and the consequent naturalization of the children meant that he had to prove to the US government that he was the biological father of his children.
Colas was incredulous when he discovered the results of his immigration DNA test for paternity which showed an exclusion of paternity. He was sure these results were erroneous and thus, he took a second DNA paternity test in the hope that the first one may have been wrong. However, the second paternity test also showed an exclusion of paternity and thus, Colas was not the children’s biological father.
The children and Sue, Colas’ second wife, remain living in Haiti. Given the results of the immigration test, Colas could not bring the two children back into the US. The US government told him that he could return to Haiti and adopt the children. He could then have full rights over the children as their father. However, in Haiti, he was told by officials that he cannot adopt his own children and they were not interested in paternity DNA test results. The Haitian governments are only interested in what is on the birth certificate of the children. The US government wants him to adopt these children that the Haitian government tells him are already his. The issue is mind boggling to say the least. For those like Colas who are in the situation, it is highly stressful and frustrating.
Should some changes be done to immigration policies in the US and other Western countries? Everything is affected by long, convoluted bureaucratic red tape. Should the results of a paternity DNA test have mattered in such a situation in which someone that is not the biological father has brought up the children and was registered on their birth certificate? Immigration DNA testing has been a traumatic experience for Colas and still his case has not been solved
Tags: evens colas > immigration DNA testing > paternity DNA testing > paternity immigration > paternity testing
Our DNA fingerprints and the science of genetic fingerprinting
Posted on | July 27, 2010 | No Comments
DNA fingerprints an accurate science that can help discriminate between people and determine whether biological relationships exist. DNA, or deoxyribose nucleic acid, is what encodes all the information necessary for life. Humans share around 98% of their DNA and thus, the other 2% is a major distinguishing factor between the genetic material from one person to the next.
DNA fingerprinting (sometime referred to as DNA profiling and more commonly simply as DNA testing) finds use in paternity DNA testing and relationship tests. Criminal investigations in which DNA analysis can help link the crime to the perpetrator also rely on genetic fingerprinting. The term fingerprinting, of course draws upon traditional methods of identification using the prints from our fingers. The ridges and contours on our finger tips are unique and a reliable means of identifying a person; however, in cases of criminal investigations, a fingerprint can be unreliable unless one is able to have prints from all ten fingers.
DNA fingerprinting by far outshines actual fingerprinting from our fingertips. Analyzing specific repeats on a DNA sequence allows for extremely precise identification of individuals. Moreover, the issue of heredity means that parents and children as well as relatives will share certain repeats which make it possible to determine whether people are truly related or not; thus, we can carry out paternity tests and relationship DNA tests with a high rate of success. This is of course something that fingerprints cannot do as our fingerprint patterns are not entirely determined by our genes but rather are formed during gestation.
In forensic DNA analysis DNA finger printing is an indispensable tool. DNA can be found in a single hair (assuming there is the root), a nail, a piece of skin, a tissue left at the crime scene and a host of other samples which could all potentially be very valuable DNA sources. It can identify criminals but also corpses that have deteriorated beyond any possible physical recognition.
It is important to understand however, that although DNA is very reliable, it works in terms of probability. Scientists cannot be absolute and say that a particular DNA profile belongs exclusively and solely to one individual. It will, nevertheless, establish the probability that DNA sample X belongs to person Y with such high probabilities that one is left without shadow of a doubt that the DNA sample belongs to that person. Using DNA fingerprints is indeed outstandingly reliable.
Tags: deoxyribose nucleic acid > DNA fingerprinting > DNA fingerprints > DNA profiling > DNA testing > fingerprints > genetic fingerprinting > paternity test > relationship DNA test
World Golf Champion Tiger Woods to take Paternity DNA Test
Posted on | June 28, 2010 | No Comments
American golfer Tiger Woods has recently made the headlines: an x girlfriend, Devon James, has come forward claiming Woods to be the father of her nine year old son, Austin T. James. Devon James is in court pushing for a paternity DNA test to prove her claim.
This is not the first paternity claim made on Woods. In 2009, Theresa Rogers claimed to have had the golfer’s 6 year old daughter; Woods agreed to a 2 million $ settlement. Devon James is said to be Wood’s 14th mistress and the former prostitute and porn star says she had the child when she was just 19 years of age. Determined to get Wood’s to take on his fatherly responsibilities, James has taken her paternity claim to court and asked a US judge to issue a court ordered paternity test.
Paternity DNA Testing- Tiger Woods
Born in California in 1975, Eldrick Tont ‘Tiger’ Woods is today one of the highest paid athletes worldwide and has won over a dozen important champion ships. As expected with a sportsman of such calibre and fame, his assets are sizable and like the typical paternity cases involving the rich and famous, speculations are rife. Is this child really the love child of Tiger and Devon? Is she after his money? How much will the Judge give her? It is common knowledge that Wood’s life is peppered with affairs and cases of infidelity to the extent that he even, earlier is his carrier, issued a public apology to his family. The fact that he has been involved in a number of scandals makes Devon’s paternity claim a possibility to many although some others question why she has waited so long to come forward with it.
Devon James claims she has even added a T in her child’s name as a tribute to his father, Tiger. She has also made fortunes through press interviews and selling her story to the media. James’ mother, who has custody of Austin, has publicly said she is sure it is impossible for Wood’s to be the boy’s father. James on the other hand, says the only African-American she has ever had sex with was Woods and given the appearance of the child, it would appear obvious that his father must be African-American. The golfer’s sex addiction, for which he has received treatment, is said to have led to the end of his current marriage to Elin Nordegren. She is said to want 250 million $ from her husband as part of the divorce settlement.
Paternity DNA testing is reliable and accurate. A judge can issue a court ordered paternity test which means that Woods will have to submit to the test. If Austin is really the golfer’s son then James can expect a hefty sum of money regularly that will go towards the child’s upbringing and education. Paternity testing can establish with accuracy whether the alleged father is a child’s true father- the rate of inclusion for such tests is as high as 99.99%.
Tiger Woods is just one of the many who has been involved in paternity disputes in the world of celebrities and famous people. Others who have required paternity DNA tests include x spice girl Mel B and her X Eddie Murphy as well as Keanu Reeves.