30%-60% of all married individuals in the U.S. will cheat during some part of their marriage*. (This research was completed almost 15 years ago, the numbers are probably higher.) *Buss, D. M., & Shackelford, T. K. (1997). Susceptibility to infidelity in the first year of marriage. Journal of Research in Personality, 31, 193-221.

If you’re married under 30, you are more likely to cheat. *Wall Street Journal, Young and Restless

More than 41% of all children are born out of wedlock. * U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services Dec ’10 Nat’l Vital Statistics Report

2% to 3% of all children are the product of infidelity. *Anderson, K. G. (2006). How well does paternity confidence match actual paternity? Evidence from worldwide nonpaternity rates. Current Anthropology 48, in
press.

Casey Anthony

Casey Anthony is on trial for the murder of her young daughter. Paternity testing was conducted after accusations of incest were made about her brother and father, and the question of whether either of these men were the biological father of young Caylee Anthony.

The Paternity Test

The paternity tests that were performed on both George Anthony, Casey’s father, and Lee Anthony, Casey’s brother, have been a hot topic in newsrooms all around the world. This murder trial has become high profile, and it seems everyone wants to know what happened to little Caylee Anthony, and what is happening inside her family unit.

Paternity Testing Results

Little Caylee Anthony

The paternity test excluded both George Anthony and Lee Anthony from being the biological father of Casey’s daughter, Caylee.

The trial continues, and the questions of paternity involving the young girls grandfather and uncle have been answered with paternity testing. With paternity test results indicating that neither of the accused gentleman are the biological father, the world will have to keep watching to see what the next twist in the trial of Casey Anthony will be.

Falsified Paternity Test Results

First, there are no trustworthy DNA testing service laboratories that will falsify Paternity DNA testing results, and an individual cannot “beat” a paternity test. You can’t change your DNA by taking special vitamins, drinking a lot of water, medications, or alcohol. The quesiton of “am I a Chimera” comes up often as well. (We have a wonderful post about the subject you should really take a look at). When performing an at home DNA paternity test, if all participants are not present when taking the DNA samples, some people may think about using someone else’s DNA in place of their own. This is why the personal DNA testing is not deemed to be admissible in court. For a legal DNA test all participants are collected at a collection facility by a third party with no interest in the outcome of the paternity results. Identification is verified to insure the correct participants are collected.

Paternity Test Lab Errors

The second part of this discussion involves the laboratory actually performing the DNA testing. Could they have switched the samples to give incorrect paternity results? I can’t speak for all laboratories; however, any reputable or accredited laboratory follows very strict guidelines to prevent this from happening. When samples are run, and the paternity results are negative, here at Identigene, we run the DNA samples again to make sure they are accurate. If the paternity results are positive, the chances that the samples happened to be switched with another case, and the alleged father in that case is the real biological father, are exceedingly unlikely.

These are sensitive topics in the world of DNA testing and Paternity results that seems to be all over the place. If you do have anything to add, or additional questions please let us know. We welcome discussion.

I have a question for you! It’s about DNA testing, paternity results to be more specific. Here’s is your question:

If you paid support for a child, and years later found out through DNA Testing that the child was not yours…would you demand that money back?

A soldier, Absalom Ndlovu of Lugaganeni (Swaziland of Southern Africa) is doing just that. After receiving his paternity results that determined he is not the biological father of Queen Shongwe’s child, Ndlovu has taken the issue to the high courts and requested his money he paid for support of the child be paid back.

In 2008 Queen Shongwe gave birth and named Absalom Ndlovu as the father. Ndlovu admits to having a relationship with Queen Shongwe, and believed he was the father of the child. In 2009 he started having his suspicions and requested a paternity test. The DNA Paternity test revealed that he is not the biological father.

In light of the paternity results, Ndlovu has filed with the high court asking for Shongwe to pay him back the E11 000 in support he has given to her over the years.

According to times.co.sz, Shongwe has not yet responded.

This shows why getting the truth sooner rather than later is so important. Every situation is different, but knowing the right answer to paternity is the first step.

Cremation Jewelry Settings from DNA to Diamonds

DNA, when most people hear the word they think of paternity testing. Maybe the first thing you think of is forensic DNA testing, like on CSI.

Not many people think of diamonds.

The company “DNA to Diamonds“ uses DNA taken from the remains of a deceased loved one to create a real, lab made, diamond.

According to their website,

“Created diamonds are genuine, certified diamonds that are created in a laboratory within a matter of weeks by replicating the extreme temperature and pressure that occur over millions of years deep under the earth’s crust. These lab diamonds possess the identical chemical, optical and physical properties of earth-mined diamonds.”

Except that the source of the “carbon seed” used to create the diamond is your Aunt Sally’s ashes.

What do you think? Would you choose to remember a loved one this way?

According to news reporters, TV talk show host Maury Povich has offered Michael Lohan a DNA paternity test to end a two-year dispute over whether he fathered a now 15-year-old girl during a disputed extramarital affair. Lohan is in discussions with the show’s producers over the details of his guest appearance.

Michael could quietly answer his paternity question with $149 for a piece of mind Identigene DNA paternity test or $349 for a court-admissible paternity test. (It’s the same actual test process, but special handling is required for legal testing). I understand why HE doesn’t want a private test…he’d miss all the public attention and it would be so….well…private.

I’d love to hear comments from someone who has actually been on a show to reveal paternity. Why did you choose TV instead of the privacy of your own home?

And, c’mon, if you’re one of the millions of Maury fans who love to see a dramatic, on-air paternity reveal, please leave a comment and tell me why you enjoy it. It’s just so interesting to me!

From an awards show in 1984. Michael with Diana Ross. Examiner.com

A woman in the Netherlands has petitioned L.A courts for a DNA paternity test with Michael Jackson.

She may want more than a paternity test however. Perhaps a DNA maternity test is in order as well.  Mocienne Petit Jackson states that not only is she the secret child of Michael Jackson (who would have been just 17 at the time of her birth) but that her mother is Dr. Barbara Ross-Lee. Dr. Ross-Lee is the sister of singer Diana Ross.

According to Mocienne, at the age of 9  she was kidnapped and sent to Belgium as part of a plot by Michael Jackson’s mother, Katherine Jackson, in an attempt to protect Michael’s reputation. She indicates that all 7 of her abductors are dead, murdered to cover up the abduction.

In addition to” her share” of Michael Jackson’s inheritance, Mocienne is also seeking custody of Michael’s children so she can give them “a more normal life.”

Via TMZ.com

The show’s home page is: http://thaliaradio.com/es/.

The following update is by Identigene Spanish Language Test Consultant Karen J.

Identigene on Thalia Radio

Thalía in her High Voltage Tour Los Angeles concert (Los Angeles, CA, USA, May 14, 2004).

First, a little background about Thalía; Thalía is a Mexican singer and former actress. She is known globally as “the queen of soaps” for being the biggest TV phenomenon in the decade of 90s. Thalía has the keys of more than 50 cities in the world, and has toured in five continents, making her one of the most internationally famous Latin singers ever. Thalía has received more than 2000 awards throughout her career for both singing and acting and is a multi-platinum singer. Thalía sold over 40 million records, with a career based on Hispanic language and reaching a high mark for a Latin artist.

Introduction

The show begins with host Thalía giving a brief explanation of the scientific advances in paternity testing and how Identigene’s paternity tests can provide peace of mind and show the biological link between fathers and children or any other relatives.

Interviews

Thalía begins by interviewing Edgar Gomez, an Identigene representative. She asks basic questions about the Identigene paternity test kit, the test, the samples collection and also Immigration cases. She was impressed by how accurate paternity testing can be, as we as how fast and easy the process is.

Introducing Lazaro’s story

Thalía and Edgar present the story of Lazaro. A man who’s life totally changed thanks to the Identigne paternity test. Lazaro came out of Cuba 17 years ago, and while in Cuba had a relationship with a young Cuban lady. Lazaro had been in the United States for two years when his mother told him that this woman had a baby and the baby was his. Lazaro was skeptical, but he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and undergone a prostate removal. The birth of this baby presented the opportunity for him to become a real father.

Lazaro described the moment when he received the report with a probability of paternity of 99.9% and his call to Cecilia, his daughter in Cuba, to give her the good news.

After congratulating Lazaro, Thalía shares the mission of her radio program, the focus on constructive stories of love and peace. Pausing, she introduces Lazaro’s daughter, Cecilia, on the other line from Cuba.

Cecilia is a little nervous to be on the radio with Thalía, but she is very happy. Cecilia and Lazaro say many times how much they love each other.
Thalía shares her excitement at being part of such a touching moment. Thanking them both, she asks Lazaro to encourage other fathers who still don’t know. Lazaro says: “I would like to say; allow yourself to be a father. Try it, don’t hesitate.”

Ending the program

Thalía ends the program by thanking Edgar, Lazaro, and Cecilia for sharing their story and asks to all fathers who are waiting to know if they are parents to remember Lazaro’s experience.

“How important is it to know your biological father? And what happens when you discover that he isn’t who you thought he was for the first 39 years of your life? Those are the questions at the heart of Thackary’s Time, a 54-minute documentary by Kathy Klausner and Beni Strebel.”

From the website:

Thackary is a footloose, free-spirited Northern Californian, who finds love time and time again. His life takes a dramatic turn when his mother tells him that the man who raised him is not his biological father. Thackary Grossman, a 39-year-old occasional carpenter and surfer, sets out to discover a new father and define his own identity.

I just came accross this documentary, I think it raises some interesting points about family, fatherhood, and identity. In a time when most people know about paternity tests from the “Maury Show” and such, I think it can be easy to lose sight of the deep impact that paternity has on everyones lives; the biological father, the mother and the child. I’m excited to see this important subject presented in the media in such an introspective and caring way.