2007-03-28 07:47:43 · 3 answers · asked by modah 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Yes, there are several ways to do it. One being a genome wide scan of single nucleotide polymorphisms and compare the genotypes. Between siblings you will see several stretches of DNA that are exactly alike throughout the genome. The percentage of similar blocks of polymorphism is indicative of your relationship to another person. The closer you are related the higher the percentage.
2007-03-28 12:46:04 · answer #1 · answered by dissaffected01 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, DNA can identify siblings. I know of one interesting case where DNA was used to identify siblings: A lot of Americans have been adopting Chinese baby girls from China. Two American families who got babies from China thought that their two babies were twin sisters. When they asked, they were told no, that the baby girls had been found abandoned in separate places a day apart. When they were settled in at home in the US, they had the little girls' DNA tested and found out that they were indeed twins.
You can currently buy a DNA test that will tell you if you're a grandparent of a child you swab for DNA. I'd conclude that you can DNA test for any relationship.
2007-03-28 07:59:05 · answer #2 · answered by Annie D 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A persons DNA is unique to that person.
Someone related to that person will have some of the same markers. A sibling will have markers in common, but not exactly the same.
It can tell if you have one or two parents in comon as well.
(Markers from the same mother, but none from the father)
2007-03-28 07:56:52 · answer #3 · answered by Tor 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋