Editing Parent (section)

== Paternity issues ==
{{Main article|DNA paternity testing}}
A paternity test is conducted to prove paternity, that is, whether a male is the biological father of another individual. This may be relevant in view of [[Fathers' rights movement|rights]] and duties of the father. Similarly, a maternity test can be carried out. This is less common, because at least during [[childbirth]] and [[pregnancy]], except in the case of a pregnancy involving [[embryo transfer]] or [[egg donation]], it is obvious who the [[mother]] is. However, it is used in a number of events such as legal battles where a person's maternity is challenged, where the mother is uncertain because she has not seen her child for an extended period of time, or where deceased persons need to be identified.

Although not constituting completely reliable evidence, several [[List of Mendelian traits in humans|congenital traits]] such as attached [[earlobe]]s, a [[widow's peak]], or the [[cleft chin]], may serve as tentative indicators of (non-) parenthood as they are readily observable and inherited via [[Dominance relationship|autosomal-dominant]] genes.

A more reliable way to ascertain parenthood is via DNA analysis (known as [[genetic fingerprinting]] of individuals), although older methods have included [[blood type|ABO blood group typing]], analysis of various other [[protein]]s and [[enzyme]]s, or using [[human leukocyte antigen]]s. The current techniques for paternity testing are using [[polymerase chain reaction]] and [[restriction fragment length polymorphism]]. For the most part, however, genetic fingerprinting has all but taken over all the other forms of testing.