FACT VS. FICTION  Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Some argue that parenthood isn't just about biology. Concerned about what's best for the children involved, many state policies assert that if a man has treated a child as his or her own, then that makes him responsible for financially supporting that child. DNA testing is the only conclusive way to determine fact over fiction.

DNA evidence is revered so highly in many other arms of the law. It has been used in criminal cases to exonerate men like Rickey Johnson and Patrick Waller whose convictions were overturned. DNA evidence was proof enough to clear them of crimes for which they each served more than a decade in prison. In Texas alone, the state where Waller was wrongfully convicted, more than 31 people have been exonerated by DNA testing.

Paternity fraud is becoming an epidemic. DNA testing protects all parties involved, providing scientific proof in the face of uncertainty.