Sterile oral swabs are used for DNA testing

DNA testing is often likened to identifying a suspect or victim of a crime a la Crime Scene Investigation, the television hit series. However, apart from using DNA as a tool to solve crime, there is an increasing awareness of the importance of knowing your personal DNA make-up and its implications, applications or relevance to health.

With recent innovations, a person can take his or her DNA samples in the comfort of the home using user-friendly testing kits.

EasyDNA Malaysia director Datin Sharifah Khairiyah Syed Mohamad says that DNA testing, especially using home-based testing kits, is a fairly new development in the country.

In most cases, the awareness comes after unpleasant situations such as infidelity or relationship disputes following wealth or property claims, she says.

Many have yet to realise that DNA testing is more than just about identifying a person or ascertaining relationship links between an alleged father and a child, or between siblings.

There are several types of DNA testing meant for various reasons. Besides the standard paternity tests, there are also procedures which are done for legal purposes such as Legal DNA Testing, DNA Profiles or Immigration DNA Testing.

Sharifah Khairiyah says: Such tests are for insurance claims or immigration reasons. There are cases where people take such tests for religious or marital purposes such as to find a valid wali (a Muslim womans closest adult male relative who has the authority to give her away in marriage).

It is also a trend among the rich and famous to keep their DNA profiles to protect their wealth and identities. There are also individuals who take the Ancestral Origin Testing to trace family roots or ethnicity, she adds.

PREDICTIVE POWER OF DNA

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Taking DNA samples at home