title: Do low template DNA profiles have useful quantitative data?
abstract: A set of low template mixed DNA profiles with known ground truths was examined using software that utilised peak heights (STRmix™ V2.3) and an adapted version that did not use peak heights and mimicked models based on a drop-out probability [1,2] (known as semi-continuous or 'drop' models) (STRmix™ lite). The use of peak heights increased the LR when Hp was true in the vast majority of cases. The effect was most notable at moderate template levels but was also present at quite low template levels. There is no level at which we can say that height information is totally uninformative. Even at the lowest levels the bulk of the data show some improvement from the inclusion of peak height information.
authors.affiliation: Forensic Science South Australia, 21 Divett Place, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia. Electronic address: Duncan.Taylor@sa.gov.au.
authors.forename: Duncan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: ESR, Private Bag 92021, Auckland 1142, New Zealand.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Buckleton
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting / Q000379:methods*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D053803:Forensic Genetics / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008957:Models, Genetic; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D012984:Software
chemical_list: D004247:DNA
keywords: Continuous models; DNA profile interpretation; Likelihood ratios; Low template; Mixtures