The Forensic Genetics Laboratory of the University of Barcelona: The evolution of paternity testing cases over the past 35 years

Abstract Biological paternity research in Catalonia (north-eastern Spain) began in 1976 when Dr. Castillo, Dr. Gelabert and Dr. Huguet studied the first case at the Department of Forensic and Legal Medicine of the University of Barcelona in cooperation with the Haemostasis and Hemotherapy Service and the Blood Bank of the Hospital Clinic in Barcelona. In the knowledge that each human is genetically unique as a result of genetic polymorphism, blood group antigen typing and other immunological techniques including human histocompatibility leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing became widely used for paternity testing and forensic science application until the end of the 1970s. However, biological tests were not accepted by the courts in Spain until 1981 when the Civil Code was reformed. With the support of Dr. Carracedo from the University of Santiago, in 1982 Dr. Huguet and Dr. Gene, who are still actively researching, set up the Haemogenetic Forensic Laboratory at the University of Barcelona and this area of the Legal Medicine Unit was thus consolidated. It was the first Forensic Genetics Laboratory in Catalonia. The aim of this study is to conduct a retrospective analysis of paternity testing cases over the past 35 years. We report on the social and legal development of the cases analysed, grouped into different periods of time. The results on paternity and non-paternity claims were studied included exclusion and non-exclusion rates. Biomathematical performance values were reported for each methodology stage (number of exclusions, average paternity probability values, population index, etc.).