International Journal of Medical Toxicology & Legal Medicine

There are a variety of multiplex PCR DNA amplification kits available in the market which are being used in forensic applications for the purpose of individualization. All these amplification kits are supposed to be validated for world population, hence could be utilized universally for human identification and establishment of DNA Database worldwide. The allelic ladder provided by the manufacturers supplied along with these kits covers almost all the possible range of alleles in a given locus and are hence considered to be suitable for genetic studies worldwide.

However, because of wide diversification, continuous process of evolution and mutation, it has been reported that sometimes the amplified alleles do not fall within the provided range of the possible designated markers of the respective allelic ladders. In such a scenario we call it as a new or rare allele which has the capacity of natural inheritance and gets transmitted from one generation to the next generation. Such rare alleles are a magnificent piece of evidence used for human identification.

The present piece of work is a case study, where a rare allele found in the mother was also found in the child confirmed by detection of the subsequent allele at the same locus contributed by the alleged father. This led to confirmation of a disputed paternity case with absolute certainty beyond and reasonable doubt.