Interpreting DNA Evidence: A Review |
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Authors: | L.A. Foreman C. Champod I.W. Evett J.A. Lambert S. Pope |
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Affiliation: | 1The Forensic Science Service, 109 Lambeth Road, London SE1 7LP, UK. E-mail:;2The Forensic Science Service, Trident Court, Solihull Parkway, Birmingham Business Park, Solihull B37 7YN, UK |
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Abstract: | The paper provides a review of current issues relating to the use of DNA profiling in forensic science. A short historical section gives the main statistical milestones that occurred during a rapid development of DNA technology and operational uses. Greater detail is then provided for interpretation issues involving STR DNA profiles, including: – methods that take account of population substructure in DNA calculations; – parallel work carried out by the US National Research Council; – the move away from multiple independence testing in favour of experiments that demonstrate the robustness of casework procedures; – the questionable practice of source attribution 'with reasonable scientific certainty'; – the effect on the interpretation of profiles obtained under increasingly sensitive techniques, the LCN technique in particular; – the use of DNA profiles as an intelligence tool; – the interpretation of DNA mixtures.
Experience of presenting DNA evidence within UK courts is also discussed. The paper then summarises a generic interpretation framework based on the concept of likelihood ratio within a hierarchy of propositions. Finally the use of Bayesian networks to interpret DNA evidence is reviewed. |
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Keywords: | Forensic science Interpretation of evidence Likelihood ratio DNA profile DNA mixtures Bayesian networks Criminalistique Police scientifique Interprétation de la preuve Rapport de vraisemblance Profile ADN Mélange de profils ADN Réseaux Bayesien |
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