Traditional paternity testing relies on comparing at specific locations (loci) on nuclear DNA. However, "alternative methods" typically address scenarios where the alleged father is unavailable or the standard nuclear DNA is highly degraded. 1. Y-Chromosome (Y-STR) Analysis
: Investigators upload a high-density SNP profile to public databases like GEDmatch or FamilyTreeDNA to find distant relatives (e.g., second or third cousins).
Introduction - DNA Technology in Forensic Science - NCBI Bookshelf An Alternative Method of Identification of a Fa...
In some contexts, identification may rely on "comparative methods" if biological material is insufficient:
: Comparing antemortem and postmortem X-rays or dental records. 4. Non-DNA Scientific Methods
Based on available research literature, the title likely refers to advanced techniques in forensic genetics and paternity testing that move beyond standard autosomal DNA profiling. Overview of Alternative Paternity Identification
: SNP analysis can also provide biogeographic ancestry data, which helps investigators narrow down a "father's" identity by predicting physical characteristics (phenotyping) when no direct match exists in databases like CODIS . 3. Forensic Genetic Genealogy (FGG) An Alternative Method of Identification of a Fa...
: By building out family trees from these matches, researchers can triangulate the "most recent common ancestor" and identify a specific individual as the potential father. 4. Non-DNA Scientific Methods