DNA Profiling Case and Levirate Custom

The Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD) in Hyderabad recently conducted DNA profiling for a family in which the father was offering to donate an organ to his son. DNA profiles of the father, son, and the mother were created. The analysis revealed an unexpected result: the man who was believed to be the father of the son was not the biological father, but likely a close relative, possibly the brother of the actual father. This unexpected revelation pointed to a practice called levirate marriage.

What is Levirate Marriage?

• Levirate marriage is a custom in some cultures, including parts of India, where a woman whose husband is deceased or incapacitated may have children fathered by her husband's brother. This ensures the family line continues, especially if the deceased or incapacitated husband cannot produce heirs.
• In this case, the DNA suggested the woman’s husband was not the biological father but a close male relative, likely the brother of the actual father. This finding, while not affecting the organ transplant, could lead to a breach of the family's privacy.

What is DNA Profiling?

• DNA profiling is a technique used to identify individuals based on the unique patterns in their DNA.
• Each person has two copies of each chromosome: one from their mother and one from their father. These chromosomes contain DNA, which is made up of long sequences of chemicals called adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and thymidine (T).
• Specific regions of chromosomes, called STR loci (Simple Tandem Repeats), have repeated sequences of DNA.
• The number of repeats at each locus varies between individuals, and this variation is used to create DNA profiles.

The DNA Profile Results in This Case:

• The DNA profile showed that the father (the man thought to be the biological father) and the son did not share the expected genetic markers.
• For example, one of the loci (D18S51) had 14 and 15 repeats for the mother, and 15 and 17 repeats for the son. The father only had 14 and 14 repeats, so he couldn't be the biological father.
• This inconsistency in the DNA suggested that the father was not the biological parent, but someone closely related, likely a brother of the actual father. This is where the practice of levirate marriage came into play.

The Role of DNA in Revealing Levirate Marriages:

• DNA analysis exposed the biological relationship, which might have been kept private due to cultural practices.
• Families in certain cultures, like in India, may not openly discuss the true paternity due to cultural and social reasons. They may prefer to keep the biological relationship private to avoid any social stigma or embarrassment.
• In India, the practice of levirate marriage is sometimes seen as a way to ensure that a family continues to have a male heir to perform important cultural rituals. This was discussed by historian Projit Bihari Mukharji in his book Brown Skins, White Coats.

Cultural and Social Impact:

• DNA testing brought to light a genetic fact that contradicted the family’s social narrative. This raised the issue of genetic privacy, as families may prefer to keep certain aspects of their ancestry and relationships hidden, especially when traditional practices like levirate marriage are involved.
• The case shows how DNA analysis is powerful but can sometimes reveal uncomfortable truths that might breach privacy, especially in cultures where family and ancestry hold significant importance.