Archive for January, 2012


How a DNA Test Can Save a Life

Filed Under: DNA Testing by dnatesting101 — 1 Comment
January 26, 2012
genetic test How a DNA Test Can Save a Life

Are you at risk for an inherited genetic test?

Our bodies are made up of cells and those cells are made up for chromosomes and each chromosome is made up of our DNA and our DNA is comprised of over 20,000 genes. Our genes determine all of our traits. A genetic disorder occurs when there is a mutation in your genes that alters your DNA.

While there are genetic mutations that occur over time on their own, there are also a number of genetic disorders that are inherited from your family.

There are always stories about how a disease has stricken a family generation over generation and taken lives too soon. There are a few ways a genetic disorder can be inherited.

Autosomal dominant inheritance pattern

Also known as monogenetic inheritance, this occurs when you have on mutated gene in your DNA sequence. This means that you only 50 percent chance of passing the disease onto your child. Some examples are:

  • Marfan syndrome
  • Huntington’s disease

Autosomal recessive inheritance pattern

To inherit the disease, there needs to be two cells that are mutated. Some examples are:

  • Cystic Fibrosis
  • Sickle Cell Anemia

X-linked recessive inheritance pattern with carrier mother

This trait is affected by a mutated X-chromosome, so females need two mutated genes to inherit the disease while males need only one because they lack the second X-chromosome to override the recessive trait. Some examples are:

  • Fabry’s disease
  • Hunter’s syndrome
  • Color blindness
There are many stories of women and men who after finding out their siblings and loved ones have fallen to a disease that runs in the family, they take precautionary steps before the disease can progress. Some women go to the extreme of mastectomies or breast removal if they anticipate a very high chance of getting breast cancer.
A DNA Predisposition Test can look closely at your genome to determine whether you have a high chance of getting a certain disease.

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DNA Doesn’t Lie

Filed Under: DNA Testing, In The News by dnatesting101 — Leave a comment
January 19, 2012
Francisco Acevedo DNA Doesnt Lie

Francisco Acevedo, 43

A New York man discovered to be a serial killer and convicted of three cold case killings after voluntarily providing his DNA.

Francisco Acevedo, 43, was sentenced to 75 years to life in prison for the brutal killings of three women in Yonkers.

The killings occurred between 1989 and 1996 and were all tied together because of the modus operandi or M.O. that the women were murdered.

Acevedo is said to have had sex with all three women before binding, beating and strangling the women and leaving them there to be found.

Though forensic investigators were able to attain DNA evidence from vaginal swabs of all three women, because the DNA wasn’t in the system, officials could not find a match. Acevedo almost got away with murdering three women.

Matches were made with CODIS, the Combined DNA Index System funded by the FBI, after Acevedo voluntarily supplied his DNA when filing for parole.

In prison at the time for drunk driving, Acevedo applied for parole which requires a submission of a DNA sample. Probably not the best idea for a wanted serial killer.

What is CODIS? CODIS DNA Doesnt Lie

CODIS is the database used by federal and local crime labs in the United States to store DNA information for investigative and identification purposes.

This database helps link crimes across different jurisdictions as well as implicate criminals already in the system of their guilt or innocence.

Similar to the way DNA is identified in genealogical DNA testing, CODIS identified 13 markers in DNA to compare DNA profiles.

DNA Proof in Court

Science is a silver bullet when it comes to evidence in the courtroom.

Because DNA is supported by scientific proof, Acevedo had no chance at avoiding his conviction.

The match was made in November of 2011 and in January of 2012, Acevedo was finally sentenced.

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Is Khloe Really a Kardashian?! Only a Sibling DNA Test will Reveal the Truth

Filed Under: DNA Testing by dnatesting101 — 4 Comments
January 13, 2012

Kardashian haters and fans alike are buzzing about reports that Khloe Kardashian is not actually a Kardashian.

How can this be?!

Although Khloe is vehemently denying the allegations, she has even questioned her own paternity in the past. In a 2009 episode of Keeping up with the Kardashian’s, Khloe, who was always much taller and blonder than her siblings, questioned whether her mother, Kris Jenner, was actually her mother. Khloe even went as far as making her mother take a DNA paternity test, but Khloe never thought to test her father.

kardashian family portait khloe 240x300 Is Khloe Really a Kardashian?! Only a Sibling DNA Test will Reveal the Truth

Kardashian Family Portrait: Does Khloe Belong?

If Robert Kardashian had taken a DNA paternity test, the world would have irrefutable evidence as to whether or not he is Khloe’s biological father.

The question as to whether the late Robert Kardashian is in fact Khloe’s father remains unsolved.

However, it’s not too late for Khloe to demand that Kim, Kourtney and Rob participate in a siblingship DNA test. A sibling DNA test will determine the statistical probability of whether the Kardashian siblings share the same two parents or not.

kardashian sisters who is khloes dad 300x200 Is Khloe Really a Kardashian?! Only a Sibling DNA Test will Reveal the Truth

Do the Kardashian sisters share the same biological father?

The Kris Jenner Affair

Adding to the drama, Kris Jenner recently admitted that she cheated on husband, Robert Kardashian, during their marriage. In her book entitled, “Kris Jenner…and All Things Kardashian”, Jenner talks about her “insanely intense affair” with a nameless younger man.

Who is Kloe Kardashian’s real father?

Both of Khloe’s former stepmothers, Jan Ashley and Ellen Kardashian, insist that Khloe is not the daughter of Robert Kardashian, insisting that she is instead a love child from Jenner’s affair.

Robert Kardashian married Jan Ashley after breaking up with Kris Jenner; he later married Ellen Kardashian before dying from cancer in 2003.

“Khloe is not his kid — he told me that after we got married,” Jan, reported in Star Magazine. “He just kind of looked at me and said [it] like it was a matter of fact. He said, ‘Well, you know that Khloe’s not really a Kardashian, don’t you?’ And I said…’OK,’ and that was it.”

Ellen Kardashian reports, “”Robert did question the fact that Khloe was his. Any normal man would if they knew their wife had cheated on him”. She goes on explain how Robert confessed he was not even sleeping with his wife, Kris Jenner, at the time Khloe was conceived. “He never would have considered a DNA test,” Ellen concluded, “He loved her very much.”

Only a sibling DNA test will clear the Kardashian name and put the rumors to rest.
Do you think the Kardashian’s will agree to a DNA test to finally prove whether Khloe is truly a Kardashian or not? 

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Malaysian Opposition Leader, Anwar Ibrahim, Acquitted of Sodomy: DNA Evidence Unreliable

Filed Under: DNA Testing by dnatesting101 — Leave a comment
January 10, 2012

anwar ibrahim accused of sodomy 300x268 Malaysian Opposition Leader, Anwar Ibrahim, Acquitted of Sodomy: DNA Evidence Unreliable

A surprising acquittal has put an end to Malaysian opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim’s, two year trial over sodomy charges- all because the presiding judge ruled that the DNA used by prosecutors was unreliable.

On June 29, 2008, an aide of Anwar Ibrahim filed a police report claiming that he had been sodomized by Ibrahim. Ever since, Ibrahim has denied allegations, claiming that the accusations were concocted by his chief political rival as part of an effort to prevent Ibrahim’s opposition alliance from coming to power.

This lengthy trial finally came to an end on Monday, January 9th, 2012, when Judge Mohamad Zabidin Diah concluded that he “could not with 100% certainty exclude the possibility that the (DNA) sample is not compromised”.

When dealing with DNA, it is so important to make sure that all DNA samples remain uncompromised and that all guidelines are strictly followed to ensure accurate DNA test results.  It’s safe to assume that prosecutors gathering DNA samples in the case of Anwar Ibrahim did not adhere to the strict procedure which signaled foul play in the judge’s head and resulted in the acquittal of Ibrahim.

Anwar Ibrahim proclaimed, “I thank God for this great news. I’m finally vindicated. It is a tough few years for us, continuous smearing, scurrilous attacks on my character, and I thank Azizah and my family for being steadfast with me.”

anwar ibrahim 232x300 Malaysian Opposition Leader, Anwar Ibrahim, Acquitted of Sodomy: DNA Evidence Unreliable

Anwar Ibrahim, Acquitted thanks to Unreliable DNA Evidence

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