All of the recent hoopla over what will happen to the offspring of Anna Nicole Smith has caused the Inspector to investigate paternity test technology. Current technology employs polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP).

Comparing the DNA sequence of an individual to that of another individual can show if one of them was derived from the other or not. Specific sequences are usually looked at to see if they were copied verbatim from one of the individual’s genome to the other. If that was the case, then this proves that the genetic material of one individual could have been derived from that of the other (i.e.: one is the parent of the other). Besides the nuclear DNA in the nucleus, the mitochondria in the cells also have their own genetic material termed the mitochondrial genome. Mitochondrial DNA comes only from the mother, without any shuffling.

For the most part however, DNA has all but taken over all the other forms of testing. This differs from older technology that analyzed ABO blood group typing, analysis of various other proteins and enzymes, or using HLA antigens.

There are even newer technologies that can determine paternity as early as 12 weeks gestation. This involves a simple blood sample taken from the pregnant woman’s arm.

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