Avuncular DNA Testing
Avuncular DNA testing, also commonly referred to as an Aunt and Uncle DNA test, is another alternate way to test for paternity with the brother or sister of the suspected father when he is not available. It determines if a person is biologically related to a sibling of the father in question.
Siblings will share some DNA in common with their aunt or uncle. Siblings share approximately 50% of their DNA with their parents and around 25% of their DNA with an aunt or uncle. The aunt and uncle DNA test will show a probability percentage that a relationship exists between the people being tested.
Avuncular DNA testing allows the brother or sister of the parent in question to have their DNA tested to help verify their biological relationships with a possible niece or nephew. A biological parent may not be available for testing for a variety of reasons and the avuncular test is an accurate way to determine paternity or maternity without the suspected parent having to take a DNA test.
Since an aunt or uncle only share 25% of common DNA the avuncular DNA test will not provide as conclusive results as a direct paternity or maternity DNA test would, however, in situations where the mother or father in question are unwilling, unavailable, missing or deceased then the aunt or uncle test is an alternate option for helping to determine paternity or maternity.
How Avuncular DNA Testing Works
When avuncular DNA testing is performed the DNA profiles of the aunt or uncle and nephew or niece are matched to see if there are a certain number of matching markers between the profiles.
If the probability of relationship is 80% or higher the biological relationship is highly likely and if it is 90.9% or higher the biological relationship is confirmed. If the probability of relationship is 10% or lower then this indicates the genetic evidence does not support the relationship. Anything in between would be considered inconclusive and adding a parent’s DNA would be advised to allow for a more conclusive result.
An avuncular DNA test will help to provide you with an indication of the likelihood of whether or not you are biologically related to the aunt or uncle.
Avuncular DNA Testing is the Most Accurate Testing
The test examines 25 specific genetic markers of the aunt or uncle and analyzes them to determine the statistical probability that an individual is the biological aunt or uncle of a particular child (minor or adult). It can test an aunt or uncle without including the mother’s DNA sample with accurate results, however, it suggests adding the mother’s DNA sample if at all possible.
Are the results more accurate with an avuncular test than a grandparent test for alternate paternity determination?
A child will share 25% matching DNA with both a grandparent or an aunt and uncle. It is just a matter of who is available for testing. Avuncular and grandparent testing will be equally accurate.
