ONSITEDNA DNA Paternity Testing News & Stories

As Published in the Salt Lake Tribune by Christopher Smart

EL DORADO, Texas — A 32-year-old Nevada man arrived at the courthouse here today to provide a DNA sample to Texas authorities determining paternity of children seized from the FLDS polygamous sect earlier this month.
David J. Williams said he is a former member of the Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints and has three sons currently held in state custody in San Angelo. The boys — Parley, 9; Jacob, 7; and Teral, 5 — were among the 437 children rounded up when Texas law officers raided the sect’s YFZ Ranch.
Williams, who left the FLDS three and a half years ago for reasons he would not discuss, called the raid — triggered by claims of sexual abuse and under-age marriages on West Texas compound — “an injustice” perpetrated by “unhonorable bastards.”
Asked why he had driven 1,200 miles from his Nevada home — he would not provide a specific town — Williams countered: “What honorable father and parent would not give his all to protect the innocence of their children and family.”
He insisted there is no abuse of children on the ranch. “These children are very much loved and cared for,” Williams said, adding that he thought much of the reason for the raid was bias against the beliefs of the sect.
He brought with him a photo album of his children and wife, but he was noncommittal when asked if he intended to see custody
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of his boys.
“I call upon America to aid me in this effort for justice,” Williams said.
Texas authorities this week have launched an effort to conduct DNA screenings of children, mothers and fathers to determine family ties. Parents who do not provide DNA samples risk being held in contempt of court, authorities say.
The samples will be processed by the Laboratory Corp. of America at a cost to the state of Texas of more than $50,000. It is estimated results will not be available for at least 30 says.
— Tribune reporter Brooke Adams contributed to this story

On Dirty, Sexy, Money, we learned that one of the Darling children may not be Tripp’s. Last week we got a clue that it may be Brian, but this week the twins were implicated when Mr. Darling made a point of the fact they they were very different from one another.

Tripp blackmailed his long time friend and doctor into performing a secret DNA Paternity Test and requested that he tell him which child is not his. “Tomorrow would be good”, he said.

Those in the Paternity Testing industry got a chuckle out of that one! It seemed unlikely that the Darling’s doctor had kept tissue samples of each of their children handy in case a DNA test was ever requested. Even with today’s advanced technology, getting the tests completed in that time frame was asking a bit much, to say the least.

Viewers will all be on the edges of their seats wondering which one of the Darling children is not Tripp’s. Of course Dirty, Sexy, Money may simply be playing with us. I guess we will have to watch to find out.

DNA Paternity Test samples are collected using a painless cheek swab. The swab is similar to a Q-tip cotton swab. It is rubbed along the inside of the cheek and some of the cells on the walls of the cheek, termed Buccal cells, stick to the swab.

Because all of the cells in the body have the same DNA, these cells are all that is needed for a DNA Paternity Test. The procedure takes about 10 minutes and is completely painless, even for babies. In fact, babies usually smile from the tickly sensation.

According to the India Times, Mubai-based married couples are beginning to use DNA Paternity Tests if they have serious doubts about the child’s parentage. Even though infidelity is one of the original sins etched in the ancient testaments, high-tech answers are being increasingly sought.

In India, the state-run Forensic Science Lab at Kalina preforms the DNA Paternity Testing, usually in response to a request by the court when there are ongoing legal disputes as to the identity of the child’s father. The test are often triggered when harassment charges are filed.

Due to increasing marital disharmony in urban nuclear families, legal experts in India fighting paternity suits, say there has been an increase in the number of such cases. “The DNA test is recognized under the Indian Evidence Act, although it is not conclusive proof and courts still look at supporting evidence if the case is related to harassment and sexual abuse,” counsel Uday Warunjakar said.

DNA Paternity Testing is also currently being used when there are disputes that arise over property and there are many legal heirs claiming their right. To confirm legal heirs, a DNA Paternity Test may be used.

In India, evidently, most DNA Paternity Tests are conducted using blood tests. Here in the U.S. however, a painless cheek swab is all that is required to collect the samples. The accuracy of the test results are the same, if both types of tests are properly conducted.