Paternity? Sibling? Grandparent? Avuncular? What Type Of DNA Test Is Right For You?

Many people have questions about their family tree and if they share a biological relationship with someone. Today, it is easier to find out than ever! More and more DNA testing is available at affordable prices so you can get the answers you're looking for. The question is.... who do you do the DNA test with? That depends upon what family member(s) can and will test with you. There are several options, a few of which may not be the first to come to mind.
Many people have questions about their family tree and if they share a biological relationship with someone. Today, it is easier to find out than ever! More and more DNA testing is available at affordable prices so you can get the answers you're looking for. The question is.... who to do the DNA test with? That depends upon what family member(s) can and will participate in the test. There are several options, a few of which may not be the first to come to mind.

Usually, when DNA testing comes to mind, it is regarding the question of paternity: is he my father? The best and most effective way to test for paternity is through a paternity test with the alleged father and child. Paternity tests come back with a 99.9% or 0%, meaning YES he is the father or NO he is not. The maternity test is equivalent to the paternity test when the question is regarding the mother instead of the father.

Sometimes, it may be that the father in question is not available to participate in the test. In these circumstances, known family members of the father may be able to help. If the father has a full sibling, meaning that he and the sibling share both of the same parents, an avuncular test with that alleged aunt or uncle can be conducted.

Additionally, if one or both of the alleged father's parents are available for testing, either a grandparent DNA test can be done, or a test called a missing parent DNA test can be done. With the grandparent DNA test, one grandparent would be tested. In a missing parent test, both grandparents would be tested to essentially recreate their son's genetic profile.

Another type of test, called a Y-STR test, is available when 2 males are questioning a biological relationship. Both participants must be male (such as an uncle/nephew, grandfather/grandson, etc.). This test is very conclusive, again basically giving a YES or NO answer. The Y-STR test however, does not determine what relationship exists between the 2 males, but instead it analyzes the Y chromosome that is passed down from male to male in the family lineage. The mitochondria tested in the Y-STR test is almost as unique as a fingerprint and only males from the same male line will have it in common.

A sibling DNA test, or sibship test, is also commonly used to test when the father is not available. If there is someone that is known to be a child of the alleged father, testing with that person for siblingship is an easy way to find out if you have one or both parents in common.

In all of the tests mentioned above, except in a paternity or Y-STR, it is recommended to add the mother to the test if she is available. This is recommended because half of our DNA comes from our mother and the other half from the father. If fatherhood is in question, adding the mother's DNA will compare mother to child, and therefore eliminate the half of the genetic profile that is not pertinent to the result. Adding the mother to a DNA test will make the results much more conclusive.

We've just taken a brief look at DNA tests available today. There are many sites that offer more detailed information. When choosing a company to use, be sure to remember that pricing isn't everything. There are several low-cost paternity sites, however be sure to check shipping options and accreditations. Also, you may even want to give them a call and see if they answer the phone, or see how long it takes for them to answer to find what level of customer service you will be getting.