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PMID: 1465380 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. Review

Population genetics in the forensic DNA debate.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America ·Vol. 89 ·No. 24 ·1992-12-15 ·Pages 11654-9

Weir BS

Abstract

The use of matching variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) profiles to link suspects with crimes is potentially very powerful, but it has been quite controversial. Initial debate over laboratory procedures has largely given way to debate over the statistical and population genetic issues involved in calculating the frequency of a profile for a random member of a population. This frequency is used to weight the evidence of a match between suspect and crime scene material when the suspect denies responsibility for that material. A recent report from the National Research Council, intended to put to rest some of the issues, has instead raised further debate by advocating a procedure based on maximum frequencies of profile components over several different populations.

MeSH Terms
Alleles DNA Fingerprinting/methods Forensic Medicine Gene Frequency Genetics, Population Humans Jurisprudence Likelihood Functions Polymorphism, Genetic Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid
Authors & Affiliations
1 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Weir B S
Department of Statistics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27695-8203.
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43 references, click to expand
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Article Info
Journal
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Abbr.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
ISSN
0027-8424
DOI
10.1073/pnas.89.24.11654
Published
1992-12-15
Pages
11654-9
Language
English
Region
United States
NLM ID
7505876
PMCID
PMC50614
Subset
IM
Grants
NIGMS NIH HHS · GM45344 · United States
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1073/pnas.89.24.11654 PMC Full Text View journal details
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