Our paternity and DNA testing guide has been provided by Cellmark, the UK’s most experienced and recommended DNA paternity testing service. Established in 1987 Cellmark is accredited by the UK Ministry of Justice and, with over 20 years of specialist DNA paternity testing is one of the largest and most trusted paternity testing providers in Europe. For further information, or to discuss any issues surrounding DNA Paternity Testing please contact Cellmark's friendly and professional customer services team on 08000 362 522 or go online at www.cellmark.co.uk.
DNA paternity testing is a scientific process that can positively identify relationships between people from their DNA. Most commonly it is used to establish if a man is the true biological father of a child. DNA paternity testing is also often referred to simply as a DNA test, a paternity test or DNA testing.
Mitochondrial DNA Testing
The vast majority of our DNA is found in the nucleus of the cells that make up our body - this is the DNA that is tested in a usual paternity or relationship test. However, in addition to the nuclear DNA, a small amount of DNA is also found in other parts of the cell – organelles called mitochondria.
Sometimes described as "cellular power plants", mitochondria are involved in converting food molecules to energy and are present in most cells in large numbers.
The DNA in mitochondria is particularly interesting as it only inherited from the mother and can therefore be used to trace the "maternal line" back through multiple generations. Mitochondrial sequencing is a lengthy and complicated type of DNA analysis which is occasionally used for forensic and relationship testing.
For further information on the work of the Human Genetics Commission and the Human Tissue Act visit the HGC’s website www.hgc.gov.uk.
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