Fixed-bin analysis for statistical evaluation of continuous distributions of allelic data from VNTR loci, for use in forensic comparisons.
The detection of DNA polymorphisms by RFLP analysis is having a major impact on identity testing in forensic science. At present, this approach is the best effort a forensic scientist can make to exclude an individual who has been falsely associated with an evidentiary sample found at a crime scene. When an analysis fails to exclude a suspect as a potential contributor of an evidentiary sample, a means should be provided to assess suitable weight to the putative match. Most important, the statistical analysis should not place undue weight on a genetic profile derived from an unknown sample that is attributed to an accused individual. The method must allow for limitations in conventional agarose-submarine-gel electrophoresis and Southern blotting procedure, limited sample population data, possible subpopulation differences, and potential sampling error. A conservative statistical method was developed based on arbitrarily defined fixed bins. This approach permits classification of continuous allelic data, provides for a simple and portable data-base system, and is unlikely to underestimate the frequency of occurrence of a set of alleles. This will help ensure that undue weight is not placed on a sample attributed to an accused individual.
Budowle
B
B
Forensic Science Research and Training Center, Federal Bureau of Investigation Academy, Quantico, VA 22135.
Giusti
A M
AM
Waye
J S
JS
Baechtel
F S
FS
Fourney
R M
RM
Adams
D E
DE
Presley
L A
LA
Deadman
H A
HA
Monson
K L
KL
D000483:Alleles; D044383:Black People; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting / Q000379:methods*; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006580:Genetic Carrier Screening / Q000379:methods; D005828:Genetics, Population; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D044465:White People