title: Using a tree diagram to interpret a mixed DNA profile.
abstract: A recent case is described where the evidence of bloodstaining on a knife suggested that it was a mixture from the two victims. Interpretation of the evidence in this problem necessitated the formulation of several sets of multiple hypotheses which were analyzed by means of a tree diagram. The problem was then greatly simplified to one of comparing the two alternative hypotheses of most interest. It was found that results were robust to variation in the expert's judgment regarding the possibility that a mixture of blood was present on the knife.
authors.affiliation: Forensic Science Service, Metropolitan Laboratory, London, UK.
authors.forename: I W
authors.initials: IW
authors.lastname: Evett
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Foreman
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Emes
mesh_terms: D001801:Blood Stains; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis*; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting / Q000379:methods*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D003663:Decision Trees; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D014951:Wounds, Stab
chemical_list: D004247:DNA