title: Probabilistic expert systems for forensic inference from DNA markers in horses: applications to confirm genealogies with lack of genetic data.
abstract: Microsatellites have been used for parentage testing and individual identification in forensic science because they are highly polymorphic and show abundant sequences dispersed throughout most eukaryotic nuclear genomes. At present, genetic testing based on DNA technology is used for most domesticated animals, including horses, to confirm identity, to determine parentage, and to validate registration certificates. But if genetic data of one of the putative parents are missing, verifying a genealogy could be questionable. The aim of this paper is to illustrate a new approach to analyze complex cases of disputed relationship with microsatellites markers. These cases were solved by analyzing the genotypes of the offspring and other horses' genotypes in the pedigrees of the putative dam/sire with probabilistic expert systems (PESs). PES was especially efficient in supplying reliable, error-free Bayesian probabilities in complex cases with missing pedigree data. One of these systems was developed for forensic purposes (FINEX program) and is particularly valuable in human analyses. We applied this program to parentage analysis in horses, and we will illustrate how different cases have been successfully worked out.
authors: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Forensic Medicine Section, University of Perugia, via del Giochetto, 06126 Perugia, Italy. marinadobosz@libero.it
authors: Marina
authors: M
authors: Dobosz
authors: Chiara
authors: C
authors: Bocci
authors: Margherita
authors: M
authors: Bonuglia
authors: Cinzia
authors: C
authors: Grasso
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: Merigioli
authors: Alessandra
authors: A
authors: Russo
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: De Iuliis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D005103:Expert Systems; D005260:Female; D053803:Forensic Genetics / Q000379:methods*; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006736:Horses / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D015233:Models, Statistical; D010375:Pedigree; D011336:Probability; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D054928:Validation Studies as Topic
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers; D004247:DNA