genetic marker
Definition:
In a paternity test, an genetic marker (or allele) is one of the two gene pairs at a particular location for a DNA profile.
Examples:
At a certain location on the gene a child may have two genetic markers, measuring 8 and 10. On a paternity test report this reads as '8,10' at that location. One of the markers (either the '8' or the '10') comes from the child's biological mother and the other must come from the biological father.
A typical paternity test looks at up to 15 locations (30 genetic markers) to determine paternity.
