Most western countries favour biological kin relationships and DNA testing is currently  used  in diverse forensic contexts to prove parental relations, for instance,  in family lawsuits or in immigration cases. This phenomenon represents the way in which the State  in many countries  constructs and imposes certain configurations of kinship relations,  parental roles  and identities  on the basis of genetic ties. Also, it has social, ethical, economic and political implications in many spheres of social life, from affiliation  laws, immigration regulations and civil rights, to individuals’ identity and the configuration of family ties and emotional bonds. 

This seminar involves the participation of experts from the areas of forensic genetics and social sciences, who will discuss the technical, societal, political and ethical implications of DNA testing to prove parental relations, in the framework of different national contexts – Australia, Brazil, Germany, Spain and Portugal. This event will contribute to disseminate results of the project “Mothers and fathers after the biological truth.  Gender, inequalities and parental roles in the cases of investigation of paternity” (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-008483).

Organised by António Amorim, Helena Machado and Susana Silva

Funding