When a child is conceived, he or she receives equal amounts of genetic makeup from both the mother and father. Each parent contributes 23 chromosomes, or sets of DNA, to their child from the egg and sperm during conception. Each chromosome pair in...
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) paternity testing can be useful in determining the identity of the father of a child. Testing can be performed before or after the child is born using blood or tissue samples obtained from both the possible father and...
Electrophoresis is a laboratory procedure that separates molecules. The molecules are suspended in fluid and an electrical charge is introduced into the liquid. Electrophoresis is not a procedure that an individual will come in contact with unless...
Breast cancer is a disease in which cells within the breast mutate and begin to proliferate uncontrollably. Breast cancer detection relies on regular breast examinations and mammograms, and breast cancer diagnosis relies on analysis of breast...
Elevated pressure in the main artery to the lungs is termed pulmonary arterial hypertension or PAH. This rare disorder carries a poor prognosis and there is no cure. Many cases have no identifiable cause. However, there is an inherited form, and...
Fathers' legal rights cover a range of issues when it comes to their children, ranging from proving paternity to receiving child support from the mother. Traditionally, legal concepts like the "tender years doctrine"--the belief that very young...
Paternity testing can be a sensitive subject for parents, but it can be necessary for any number of reasons. Some parents choose to have paternity testing done for peace of mind, some out of curiosity and some for legal reasons. If a couple isn't...
In today's litigious world, the paternity test to determine the identity of a baby's father has become a very important legal tool. Paternity tests, all-important in many situations for unmarried parents, can be the basis of determining a father's...
Wanting to know a baby's gender is a personal choice. Some couples desire to know because the baby is at risk for a chromosomal problem, such as X-linked hemophilia--a bleeding disorder that affects only boys. Other couples wish to know the baby's...
Paternity DNA testing determines the biological father of a child. DNA is a building block of life; it contains information for our tissues' and organs' development and their proper functioning. It has two copies, and we inherit one copy from each...
The diagnosis of celiac disease can sometimes be difficult. Celiac is also known as "the great imitator" because many of its symptoms can resemble those of numerous other health conditions. Some people will experience skin rashes, others may have...
White blood cells, also called leukocytes, make up a portion of the cells in your blood. There are five major types of leukocytes, known as neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes, all of which have distict morphological...
DNA testing "can provide information for diagnosing, treating and preventing illness," according to the Mayo Clinic. Screenings can help find genetic disorders before the symptoms of the disorder occur, in adults and fetuses. A blood sample is...
Few things are more devastating than finding out your new baby has a genetic disease. DNA testing has become more popular prior to pregnancy since testing is more available and affordable. The decision to test isn't always an easy one, since it...
A mutation in a person's DNA can cause a disruption in normal function. In some cases, the DNA mutation may not result in any symptoms until the patient has reached adulthood. According to the National Institutes of Health, "genetic tests are...
Vitamin B12 is an essential water-soluble vitamin. Adequate intakes of vitamin B12 are necessary for the production of red blood cells and to prevent anemia. Vitamin B12 is also important for neurological function and the synthesis of your DNA. A...
When the symptoms of colon cancer occur, a prompt diagnosis is required, according to the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. Because there may be few symptoms of colon cancer until the disease has progressed, routine screening is...
Dementia and Huntington's disease are neurological disorders that result in a progressive loss of function. Huntington's disease, an inherited disease that begins when the patient is in her 30s and 40s, can progress into dementia. When a patient...
The inherited blood disorder thalassemia can range in severity from mild to severe. Mild cases, usually caused by a single defect inherited from only one parent that affects one of the genes controlling the production of alpha or beta globulin,...
Colon cancer is the result of small growths in the colon developing the ability to spread throughout other tissues in the body. Some patients have a genetic predisposition to developing colon cancer, which can result from certain hereditary...
Genital herpes (herpes simplex virus, or HSV) can be hard to diagnose because the symptoms are similar to those of other sexually transmitted diseases, or they may be too mild to notice. Many people infected with HSV never know they have the...
All blood is not created equal. It all serves the body, it delivers oxygen and nutrients. It polices, attacking what it perceives to be invaders. But what it perceives to be invaders changes from person to person. The immune system is complex,...
Vegans eat no animal products, including cheese, eggs and dairy products. While eating a vegan diet gives you plenty of fruits and vegetables, you may find yourself at risk of developing a vitamin B-12 deficiency, because vitamin B-12 is primarily...
Compared to women, men tend to drink more, suffer more from stress and seek medical advice less often. However, men are also living longer and their lifespan is catching up to women. Make sure that your later years are as healthy as possible. As...
According to the National Human Genome Research Institute, "genetic testing" covers a wide variety of clinical and non-clinical tests and includes testing of DNA, RNA, and proteins. Breast cancer genetic tests use blood samples or tissue samples...
