Protein Genetics and Paternity Determinations in Southern Brazil.

ABSTRACT

A review is made of 961 cases of paternity determinations using a battery of 18 protein genetic systems. With this set, the a priori probability of exclusion is 89% but only 16% of the accused men were exonerated. Among the non-excluded, 55% had probabilities of 95% or more of being the father of the child considered. The results are in accordance with those from other centers which use equivalent sets of protein markers. When the direct study of DNA is not possible, these tests provide a relatively low-cost, reliable alternative for such determinations.