STATISTICAL INTERPRETATION OF DNA EVIDENCE

• NCJ Number: 147173
• Journal: Journal of the Forensic Science Society Volume: 33 Issue: 4 Dated: (October-December 1993) Pages: 212-217
• Author(s): G Gettinby; M Peterson; N Watson
• Date Published: 1993
• Length: 6 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Conference Material
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom
• Note: Part of the Royal Society of Edinburgh DNA Symposium held April 3, 1993

Annotation

DNA matching is discussed.

Abstract

This article discusses the circumstances in which transfer of forensic materials between victim and attacker has occurred as a result of an attacker leaving material at the scene of a crime and a suspect has been identified. A brief chronology of significant developments in DNA profiling is provided. Also included is a discussion of probability as it relates to DNA profiling, the statements of likelihood ratio and Bayes' Theorem, band matching, estimation and databases. The author predicts that the next development in DNA testing will be the use of the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) to analyze Short Tandem Repeat (STR) sequences to remove some of the statistical problems of matching. 15 references