| Adenine (A) - one of the four nitrogenous bases found in DNA; it pairs with thymine (T) to bind and form a base pair, an important molecular component for the structure of DNA |
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| Antibody - a protein in the blood produced in response to the presence of antigens; it binds with foreign bodies in the bloodstream, such as bacteria, viruses, and other biological invaders |
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| Antigen - a foreign substance or biological invader that elicits an immune response; the presence of antigens triggers the production of antibodies. |
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| Blood types - also known as the ABO system, blood types correspond with specific blood cell characteristics based on the presence or absence of certain antigens on the red blood cell surface; the 4 blood types are A, B, AB, and O. |
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| Buccal swabbing - a DNA collection process by which a bristle or cotton-like material, often similar to a large Q-tip, is used to rub the inside of the cheek; this process is painless and quick |
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| Chain of custody DNA test - a legal term for a test that is performed to ensure the integrity of the results; typically, the results of a chain of custody test are court admissible; these tests cost more than in-home tests because of the collection and administrative procedures necessary to ensure the chain of custody is strictly followed |
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| Child Support Enforcement Program (CSE) - a national program established in 1975 to ensure that both parents are financially responsible for a child; this program is enforced through the coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal child support agencies |
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| Chromosome - the large macromolecule that contains DNA; it is located in the nucleus of a cell and is typically wrapped around a histone; the human body has 23 pairs of chromosomes |
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| Close Relative - the biological parents and full siblings of the alleged father or mother |
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| Combined Paternity Index (CPI) - a common statistical result from paternity tests, representing the overall odds that a random, untested male could have the same genetic profile as the alleged father being tested; for example, if a paternity test resulted in a CPI of 300,000, this would mean that the odds that another male (not the alleged father) is the biological father of the child would be 1 in 300,000 - the probability of paternity for the alleged father in this case, then, would be 99.99967%; similar values are given for maternity, siblingship, grandparentage, and genetic reconstruction tests |
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| Cytosine (C) - one of the four nitrogenous bases found in DNA; it pairs with guanine (G) to bind and form a base pair, an important molecular component for the structure of DNA |
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| Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) - a self-replicating molecule found in all living things that serves as the blueprint for all the structures and functions of the body; DNA makes up chromosomes |
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| Deoxyribose - the five-carbon sugar found in DNA |
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| Disestablishment of paternity - the legal determination that a man is not the father of a child; some states have provisions for disestablishing paternity, although many courts are reluctant to break ties between fathers and children because of the emotional impact it may have on the children |
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| Double helix model - the structure of DNA as defined by Watson and Crick; this model has a backbone of two parallel helices, formed by sugars and phosphates, that is connected by base pairs (A-T, C-G) |
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| Establishment of paternity - the legal determination that a man is the father of a child; this is particularly important in child support cases |
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| Fragments - pieces of DNA; often used for DNA testing and analysis |
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| Gene - the hereditary unit in living organisms; each gene determines a physical characteristic or a behavior; in humans, genes are passed from parents to children |
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| Genetics - the study of heredity in living organisms |
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| Genotype - the genetic characteristics of an organism |
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| Guanine (G) - one of the four nitrogenous bases found in DNA; it pairs with cytosine (C) to bind and form a base pair, an important molecular component for the structure of DNA |
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| Human leukocyte antigens (HLA) - proteins encoded by genes that are unique to each person; HLA have been used in the past for determining paternity |
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| Identifiable information (adoption) - descriptive details in an adoption case that may lead to the positive identification of an adopted person, birth parent, or other birth relative; mutual consent between the adopted person and the birth family is typically required to access this information; this information frequently includes the current name and contact information of a person involved in an adoption case |
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| Locus/loci - position or location of a gene on a chromosome |
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| Mitochondrion/mitochondria - an organelle in the cell that is responsible for respiration and energy; it contains unique DNA that can be used for mtDNA testing |
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| Mutation - a change in the structure of a gene; often caused by the addition, deletion, or rearrangement of a base |
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| Non-custodial parent - the parent who does not have custody of a child, who is often required to pay child support |
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Non-identifiable information (adoption) - descriptive details about adopted persons and their birth relatives that are generally released to adopted persons over the age of 18 in the United States; some states charge fees for the release of this information; this information often includes:
- Date and place of the adopted person's birth.
- Age and physical description of the birth parents.
- Race, ethnicity, religion, and medical history of the birth parents.
- Birth parents' educational and occupational status at the time of the adoption.
- Reason for placing the child for adoption.
- Existence of other children born to the birth parents.
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| Nucleus - the location of most genetic material in the cell; it is responsible for organizing and storing genes |
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| Pathology - the study of diseases, especially in tissues, through forensic or laboratory diagnostic techniques |
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| Phenotype - the physical appearance caused by the genotype of an organism |
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| Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) - a technique for copying small fragments of DNA many times; it is one of the most common processes used in DNA testing |
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| Power of exclusion - the power of a test to eliminate a certain percentage of the population from being biologically related to an individual; for example, if a paternity test using blood typing has a power of exclusion of 30%, only 30% of the male population could be eliminated from being the biological father of a tested child |
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| Prenatal testing - DNA testing that is performed before a child is born; because DNA is present at the moment of conception, testing can be performed to verify biological relationships before birth; the DNA analysis is identical to testing performed after the child is born except that the child's DNA is collected through amniocentesis or chorionic villi sampling; DNA can also be collected from the umbilical cord upon the birth of the child |
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| Probability of paternity - a statistical value for the odds that an alleged father is the biological father of a child; this value is derived from converting the Combined Paternity Index (CPI) into a percentage; probabilities of maternity, siblingship, grandparentage, twin zygosity, and relatedness are all calculated in the same way |
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| Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) - a process by which DNA samples are cut into specific fragments of varying lengths for analysis; a child's fragments will be the same length as the fragments of his or her biological parents; similarities in fragment lengths can be used to verify other biological relationships |
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| Rh factors - inherited antigens often found on the blood cells; some individuals have these antigens (Rh+) while others do not (Rh-); the presence of Rh factors, in conjunction with blood typing, has been used in the past to determine paternity |
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| Ribose - a five-carbon sugar found in RNA, a molecule similar to DNA that is useful in replicating DNA |
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| Serological test - an analysis of one's blood serum, particularly for HLA typing |
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| Thymine (T) - one of the four nitrogenous bases found in DNA; it pairs with adenine (A) to bind and form a base pair, an important molecular component for the structure of DNA |
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| Transformation - a change in a cell from a normal state to a deadly state; this was significant to Griffith's and Avery's tests |
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| Voluntary acknowledgement of paternity - a written admission of paternity, typically signed at the time of a child's birth |
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| X-ray diffraction analysis - a laboratory technique through which the structure of a compound is observed; this process involves crystallizing the compound and exposing it to radiation to view the compound's shape; this was used by Franklin to reveal the structure of DNA |
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| Zygote - the cell formed by the union of the sperm and the egg; the initial stage of fetal development; identical twins develop from the same zygote and are thus genetically identical |
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