Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

Abstract

ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND:
Disputed paternity is one of the most important medico-legal problems in Iraq. In addition to
identification of unknown corpses. Paternity cases are resolved by doing ABO typing and HLA
serotyping and both are less accurate than DNA typing. To our knowledge this is the first study of such
type in Iraq.
OBJCTIVE:
To show the medico-legal importance of determination of allel frequencies in Iraqi population.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS:
Whole blood was obtained in EDTA tubes by venepuncture from 38 individuals. The DNA was extracted
using the Wizard Genomic DNA Purification Kit and the quantity was estimated by UV-absorbance. The
multiplex analysis of D16S539, D7S720, and D13S317 was performed using the Gene Print STR
Multiplex system. Amplification was performed in eppendorf thermal cycler. The PCR products were
typed by vertical electrophoresis on 0.4 mm thick 7% denaturing polyacrylamide gel and silver staining.
RESULTS:
In our study the DNA fingerprinting test has high accuracy rate.
CONCLUSION:
Since the DNA typing is the most accurate method so it can be routinely used as a paternity test, it is the
only test that can meet the increasingly imperative demand to resolve the social and judicial problems
involved in paternity suits and other medico-legal problems.