Dna fingerprinting is a method used to identify individuals by locating unique base sequences in their dna molecules.

before researchers refined the method, attorneys often relied on abo blood-typing to settle disputes over paternity.

suppose that you, as a geneticist, are asked to testify during a paternity case in which the mother has type a blood, the child has type bleod, and the alleged father has type b blood.

how would you respond to the following statements?

a. attorney for the alleged father: "the mother's blood is type a, so the child's type o blood must have come from the father. my client has type b blood; he could not be the father."

b. mother's attorney: "further tests show that the man is heterozygous. therefore, he must be the father."