There is a man, looking for his brother's children. (brother is deceased) Can DNA prove, relationship? He has found two women who might be his nieces and they are all eager to know. Do they need DNA of actual father?
2007-01-07 06:29:45 · 2 answers · asked by Emma J 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Mitochondrial DNA is passed down the family tree from mother to all her offspring by the female's egg (not the male sperm). Therefore the possible nieces would have the same mitochondrial DNA as the wife of the man's brother or her mother and any of their offspring. That could show that the nieces are not relatives but would not prove beyond doubt that they are.
2007-01-07 06:54:06 · answer #1 · answered by Kes 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sure, DNA would prove relationship. But yes, they'd need DNA from the dead man for that -- maybe not easy to come by. And DNA testing is expensive.
Wouldn't it be much simpler for those nieces to get their birth records from Vital Stats? Each province and state keeps records on every baby's parents. I'll put the link for Ontario below, as an example.
2007-01-07 06:58:12 · answer #2 · answered by will_o_the_west 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋