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Message: [QUOTE="Nehanda, post: 28226, member: 2262"] Finding out who fathered a child matters legally for two main reasons. Parents need to know if a child counts as legitimate under the law. Plus, someone has to pay for raising that kid, and figuring out who created that child depends on who pays. You hear about DNA all the time on TV shows where police gather evidence at crime scenes. DNA stands for Deoxyribo-Nucleric Acid, which exists inside every tiny cell making up your body. When babies form, they receive exactly 23 chromosomes from the mom's egg and another 23 from the dad's sperm, totaling 46 chromosomes per cell. DNA testing compares the unique pattern of genetic material between people to see if they match. Scientists look at biological samples like blood, tissue, or hair to make these comparisons. Medical experts also use DNA information when treating genetic health problems or weaknesses passed down through families. Modern science lets doctors check paternity before a baby arrives through prenatal testing. This newer method can identify the father during pregnancy without harming the developing baby. People should remember that analyzing someone else's genetic material requires permission since everyone deserves privacy about their biology. Anyone directly involved can request paternity testing - regular folks, lawyers, or judges may ask for these tests. Courts generally believe discovering biological truth matters more than protecting complete privacy. Recent testing offers extreme accuracy, identifying fathers with 99.9% certainty according to evidence accepted by Zimbabwean courts. The 2005 Mtshingwe v Moyo case showed how courts handle these matters. Judges ordered both parties to submit blood samples for testing. Thanks to medical advances, scientists can determine paternity accurately even without the mother's blood sample by comparing just the child and possible father. DNA tests help resolve nagging doubts that hurt family relationships and damage children emotionally. Even when suspicions prove correct, many kids end up no worse than before since clearing up confusion often benefits their long-term welfare. These tests definitely prove when someone isn't the father of a particular child. Testing involving mother, child, and alleged father conclusively shows which men couldn't possibly be the biological parent. However, science cannot absolutely confirm one specific man as the true father. Tests only narrow things down to a group of possible fathers. This limitation remains important for everyone involved to understand when seeking answers. [/QUOTE]

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