DNA-Based Human Individual Identification and DNA Paternity, Maternity, or Parentage Testing

The human body is composed of trillions of cells. DNA is the hereditary or genetic material located in every cell throughout the human body. We can generate an individual-specific genetic identity (Genetic ID) from the contents of DNA present in a person’s cells. Hence, every human has a unique DNA-based Genetic ID (also called DNA profile) that remains constant throughout life and can be used for human individual identification.

This unique individual-specific DNA profile is generated in a specialist laboratory by a process called DNA typing or DNA testing, using DNA extracted from cells (e.g., buccal cells) of an individual. Nowadays, 24 genetic markers present in the DNA of an individual are used to produce the individual’s DNA profile.

The unique individual-specific DNA profiles generated from different individuals can also be used for the following purposes:

GE is helmed by molecular geneticist Dr Koh Chong Lek, PhD (London), DIC, FASc, who has almost 50 years of experience in genetics, molecular biology, and biotechnology. He has pioneered DNA-based human identification or DNA typing in Malaysia since 1992. He was the first Malaysian scientist to provide DNA typing service for human identification and parentage testing. He and his team members used DNA typing to (a) confirm the identities of several victims of the Highland Towers collapse in Kuala Lumpur in 1993 and (b) identify nine badly burnt victims of the MAS Fokker 50 plane crash in Tawau, Sabah, in 1995.