Tennessee Code Annotated
Tenn. Code Ann. § 24-7-118 (2026)
DNA analysis - Admissibility in evidence
✓ current as of May 2026
- (a) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires, "DNA analysis" means the process through which deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in a human biological specimen is analyzed and compared with DNA from another biological specimen for identification purposes.
- (b)
- (1) In any civil or criminal trial, hearing or proceeding, the results of DNA analysis, as defined in subsection (a), are admissible in evidence without antecedent expert testimony that DNA analysis provides a trustworthy and reliable method of identifying characteristics in an individual's genetic material upon a showing that the offered testimony meets the standards of admissibility set forth in the Tennessee Rules of Evidence.
- (2) Nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting any party in a civil or criminal trial from offering proof that DNA analysis does not provide a trustworthy and reliable method of identifying characteristics in an individual's genetic material, nor shall it prohibit a party from cross-examining the other party's expert as to the lack of trustworthiness and reliability of such analysis.
- (c) In any civil or criminal trial, hearing or proceeding, statistical population frequency evidence, based on genetic or blood test results, is admissible in evidence to demonstrate the fraction of the population that would have the same combination of genetic markers as was found in a specific biological specimen. For purposes of this subsection (c), "genetic marker" means the various blood types or DNA types that an individual may possess.
Acts 1991, ch. 480, § 3; T.C.A., § 24-7-117.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 14
cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1996–2021 · leading case: White v. Thompson, 11 S.W.3d 913 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1999).
White v. Thompson, 11 S.W.3d 913 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1999). “iage is declared invalid, if the child was born during the attempted marriage or within three hundred (300) days after the termination of the attempted marriage for any reason; (D) A man who has been adjudicated to be the legal father of the child by any court or administrative…”
State of Tennessee v. Demontez D. Watkins (Tenn. Crim. App. 2021). “T.C.A. § 24-7-118 (2017) (formerly codified at § 24-7-117).”
State of Tennessee v. William Thomas Reed (Tenn. Crim. App. 2020). “Tennessee Code Annotated section 24-7-118 provides that: In any civil or criminal trial, hearing or proceeding, the results of DNA analysis, as defined in subsection (a), are admissible in evidence without antecedent expert testimony that DNA analysis provides a trustworthy and…”
State of Tennessee v. James Thomas Manning (Tenn. Crim. App. 2006). “T.C.A. § 24-7-118 (2000). In 1991, the General Assembly enacted a statute to admit DNA evidence "without antecedent expert testimony that DNA analysis provides a trustworthy and reliable method of identifying characteristics in an individual's genetic material.”
State of Tennessee v. Dominick S. Hodges (Tenn. Crim. App. 2013). “Our supreme court has specifically stated that “‘a party can challenge the reliability of a 2 “Former § 24-7-117, concerning admissibility in evidence of DNA analysis, was transferred to § 24-7-118 in 2000.” Tenn. Code Ann. § 24-7-117 , Compiler’s Notes.”
Larry Granderson v. Lisa Hicks (Tenn. Ct. App. 1998). “” Tenn. Code Ann. § 24-7-118 (e)(1) (Supp. 1998).”
R.L. Williams v. State of Tennessee (Tenn. Crim. App. 2009). “allowed to challenge a particular DNA test through competing experts, cross-examination, and the like,” and he argues that counsel “only briefly cross-examined the State’s DNA expert, and then only regarding probabilities” and that he “did not challenge the protocols, testing…”
State of Tennessee, ex rel., Brandi Shantika Taylor v. Cedrick Cortez Wilson (Tenn. Ct. App. 2005). “In Granderson, we considered the appeal of a putative father who sought DNA tests to determine the paternity of a minor child, concerning whom he had previously entered into a voluntary consent order of paternity with the child’s mother. Although the application of Tenn.”
State of Tennessee v. Allen Prentice Blye (Tenn. Crim. App. 2002). “” Tenn. Code Ann. § 24-7-118 (c). Moreover, this Court has previously considered the Defendant’s argument and rejected it.”
Richards v. Read (Tenn. Ct. App. 1999). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 24-7-118 (e) (2) (Supp.”
State, DHS Assignee of: Stanley v. Hooper (Tenn. Ct. App. 1997). “See Tenn. Code Ann. § 24-7-118 . However, the legislature did not condition the conclusive presumption of section 24-7-112 upon a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity, and as was the court in Austin, we are prohibited from inserting any such requirement into the statute.”
Michael Scott Evens v. Karen Maried Bisson Steelman (Tenn. Ct. App. 1996). “(b) In addition to the provisions of subsection (a), a person wishing to legitimate a child may obtain an order of legitimation for a child born to an unmarried woman by filing with the court a certified copy or a duplicate original of the acknowledgment of paternity as…”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 24-7-118(a) — 2 cases
State of Tennessee v. William Thomas Reed (Tenn. Crim. App. 2020). “Tennessee Code Annotated section 24-7-118 provides that: In any civil or criminal trial, hearing or proceeding, the results of DNA analysis, as defined in subsection (a), are admissible in evidence without antecedent expert testimony that DNA analysis provides a trustworthy and…”
State of Tennessee v. Demontez D. Watkins (Tenn. Crim. App. 2021). “T.C.A. § 24-7-118 (2017) (formerly codified at § 24-7-117).”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 24-7-118(b) — 1 case
State of Tennessee v. Dominick S. Hodges (Tenn. Crim. App. 2013). “Our supreme court has specifically stated that “‘a party can challenge the reliability of a 2 “Former § 24-7-117, concerning admissibility in evidence of DNA analysis, was transferred to § 24-7-118 in 2000.” Tenn. Code Ann. § 24-7-117 , Compiler’s Notes.”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 24-7-118(b)(1) — 3 cases
State of Tennessee v. William Thomas Reed (Tenn. Crim. App. 2020). “Tennessee Code Annotated section 24-7-118 provides that: In any civil or criminal trial, hearing or proceeding, the results of DNA analysis, as defined in subsection (a), are admissible in evidence without antecedent expert testimony that DNA analysis provides a trustworthy and…”
State of Tennessee v. Dominick S. Hodges (Tenn. Crim. App. 2013). “Our supreme court has specifically stated that “‘a party can challenge the reliability of a 2 “Former § 24-7-117, concerning admissibility in evidence of DNA analysis, was transferred to § 24-7-118 in 2000.” Tenn. Code Ann. § 24-7-117 , Compiler’s Notes.”
State of Tennessee v. James Thomas Manning (Tenn. Crim. App. 2006). “T.C.A. § 24-7-118 (2000). In 1991, the General Assembly enacted a statute to admit DNA evidence "without antecedent expert testimony that DNA analysis provides a trustworthy and reliable method of identifying characteristics in an individual's genetic material.”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 24-7-118(b)(2) — 2 cases
State of Tennessee v. Dominick S. Hodges (Tenn. Crim. App. 2013). “Our supreme court has specifically stated that “‘a party can challenge the reliability of a 2 “Former § 24-7-117, concerning admissibility in evidence of DNA analysis, was transferred to § 24-7-118 in 2000.” Tenn. Code Ann. § 24-7-117 , Compiler’s Notes.”
R.L. Williams v. State of Tennessee (Tenn. Crim. App. 2009). “allowed to challenge a particular DNA test through competing experts, cross-examination, and the like,” and he argues that counsel “only briefly cross-examined the State’s DNA expert, and then only regarding probabilities” and that he “did not challenge the protocols, testing…”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 24-7-118(c) — 2 cases
State of Tennessee v. James Thomas Manning (Tenn. Crim. App. 2006). “T.C.A. § 24-7-118 (2000). In 1991, the General Assembly enacted a statute to admit DNA evidence "without antecedent expert testimony that DNA analysis provides a trustworthy and reliable method of identifying characteristics in an individual's genetic material.”
State of Tennessee v. William Thomas Reed (Tenn. Crim. App. 2020). “Tennessee Code Annotated section 24-7-118 provides that: In any civil or criminal trial, hearing or proceeding, the results of DNA analysis, as defined in subsection (a), are admissible in evidence without antecedent expert testimony that DNA analysis provides a trustworthy and…”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 24-7-118(e) — 2 cases
State of Tennessee, ex rel., Brandi Shantika Taylor v. Cedrick Cortez Wilson (Tenn. Ct. App. 2005). “In Granderson, we considered the appeal of a putative father who sought DNA tests to determine the paternity of a minor child, concerning whom he had previously entered into a voluntary consent order of paternity with the child’s mother. Although the application of Tenn.”
Larry Granderson v. Lisa Hicks (Tenn. Ct. App. 1998). “” Tenn. Code Ann. § 24-7-118 (e)(1) (Supp. 1998).”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 24-7-118(e)(1) — 1 case
Larry Granderson v. Lisa Hicks (Tenn. Ct. App. 1998). “” Tenn. Code Ann. § 24-7-118 (e)(1) (Supp. 1998).”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 24-7-118(e)(2) — 1 case
Larry Granderson v. Lisa Hicks (Tenn. Ct. App. 1998). “” Tenn. Code Ann. § 24-7-118 (e)(1) (Supp. 1998).”
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