- Course Introduction
- 01: Evidence & DNA
- 02: Forensic Biology
- 03: DNA Extraction & Quantitation
- 04: DNA Amplification
- 05: Amplified DNA Product Separation
- 06: STR Data Analysis & Interpretation
- Data Troubleshooting
- Data Interpretation & Allele Calls
President's DNA Initiative
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Advancing Justice Through DNA Technology
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Advancing Justice Through DNA Technology
DNA Analyst Training
Mutation & Paternity
Home > STR Data Analysis & Interpretation > Data Troubleshooting > Mutations > Mutation & Paternity
Mutations occurring during meiosis can affect the interpretation of paternity tests. A mutation during meiosis may result in discrepant results at a locus. For instance, a mother has a 14, 15 type at D3S1358. The assumed biological father has a 17, 18 type at D3S1358. The offspring has a 15, 19 type. By comparing data at this one locus, it appears that the child’s assumed biological father can be excluded because the male could not have passed the 19 allele on to the child. During meiosis it is possible for an additional tetranucleotide repeat to be added to the DNA strand. Therefore, the male could have passed along a 19 allele, even though he doesn’t have that allele type, if this mutation takes place.
Since mutations occur at known rates,05 it is important to develop a procedure to effectively deal with them in paternity cases. Many researchers in the field suggest using a two locus exclusion for STR paternity testing.06 Since mutations are relatively rare for the core STR loci, it is unlikely that two mutations would occur during meiosis at two different loci.
Somatic mutations have been known to occur at STR loci used in forensic testing. A somatic mutation occurs within somatic cells and are not inherited.
For example, a somatic mutation can occur in early embryonic development within an STR locus. Although the embryo inherits an 8 allele at D7S820 from its mother and a 9 allele from its father, the mutation results in an additional 10 allele. Therefore, the child will exhibit a tri-allelic pattern at D7S820. A mutation of this type can look like a mixed DNA sample or a contamination event at that locus. In reviewing data from other loci, these concerns can be dismissed. It might be advisable to retest the sample or possibly other tissue types from the individual to confirm the DNA profile.
A somatic mutation can occur after tissue differentiation begins in an embryo’s development. In this case (for example), it is possible for the DNA profile obtained from a buccal swab to be different than that obtained from a hair or blood sample. If this mutation occurs early in the embryo’s development, then it is more likely to be the common type throughout all of the tissues.
