Topic
Forensic identification
About: Forensic identification is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 494 publications have been published within this topic receiving 11205 citations. The topic is also known as: forensic genetics.
Papers published on a yearly basis
Papers
TL;DR: A method is proposed for allowing for the effects of population differentiation, and other factors, in forensic inference based on DNA profiles, which is currently used in some UK courts and has important advantages over the ‘Ceiling Principle’ method, which has been criticized on a number of grounds.
Abstract: A method is proposed for allowing for the effects of population differentiation, and other factors, in forensic inference based on DNA profiles. Much current forensic practice ignores, for example, the effects of coancestry and inappropriate databases and is consequently systematically biased against defendants. Problems with the 'product rule' for forensic identification have been highlighted by several authors, but important aspects of the problems are not widely appreciated. This arises in part because the match probability has often been confused with the relative frequency of the profile. Further, the analogous problems in paternity cases have received little attention. The proposed method is derived under general assumptions about the underlying population genetic processes. Probabilities relevant to forensic inference are expressed in terms of a single parameter whose values can be chosen to reflect the specific circumstances. The method is currently used in some UK courts and has important advantages over the 'Ceiling Principle' method, which has been criticized on a number of grounds.
601 citations
Posted Content•
TL;DR: Changes in the law pertaining to the admissibility of expert evidence in court, together with the emergence of DNA typing as a model for a scientifically defensible approach to questions of shared identity, are driving the older forensic sciences toward a new scientific paradigm.
Abstract: Converging legal and scientific forces are pushing the traditional forensic identification sciences toward fundamental change. The assumption of discernible uniqueness that resides at the core of these fields is weakened by evidence of errors in proficiency testing and in actual cases. Changes in the law pertaining to the admissibility of expert evidence in court, together with the emergence of DNA typing as a model for a scientifically defensible approach to questions of shared identity, are driving the older forensic sciences toward a new scientific paradigm.
529 citations
TL;DR: Advances in genetics, genomics and molecular biology are likely to improve human forensic case work in the near future, including new molecular approaches for finding individuals previously unknown to investigators, and new molecular methods to support links between forensic sample donors and criminal acts.
Abstract: Forensic DNA profiling currently allows the identification of persons already known to investigating authorities. Recent advances have produced new types of genetic markers with the potential to overcome some important limitations of current DNA profiling methods. Moreover, other developments are enabling completely new kinds of forensically relevant information to be extracted from biological samples. These include new molecular approaches for finding individuals previously unknown to investigators, and new molecular methods to support links between forensic sample donors and criminal acts. Such advances in genetics, genomics and molecular biology are likely to improve human forensic case work in the near future.
518 citations
TL;DR: The assumption of discernible uniqueness that resides at the core of forensic identification sciences is weakened by evidence of errors in proficiency testing and in actual cases as discussed by the authors, and the emergence of DNA typing as a model for a scientifically defensible approach to questions of shared identity is driving the older forensic sciences toward a new scientific paradigm.
Abstract: Converging legal and scientific forces are pushing the traditional forensic identification sciences toward fundamental change. The assumption of discernible uniqueness that resides at the core of these fields is weakened by evidence of errors in proficiency testing and in actual cases. Changes in the law pertaining to the admissibility of expert evidence in court, together with the emergence of DNA typing as a model for a scientifically defensible approach to questions of shared identity, are driving the older forensic sciences toward a new scientific paradigm.
408 citations
TL;DR: The data confirm that PCR-based mtDNA typing by direct automated sequencing is a valid and reliable means of forensic identification.
Abstract: Two sets of studies were performed to evaluate the forensic utility of sequencing human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) derived from various tissues and amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Sequencing was performed on a Perkin-Elmer/Applied Biosystems Division (PE/ABD) automated DNA sequencer (model 373A). The first set of experiments included typical validation studies that had previously been conducted on forensic DNA markers, such as: chemical contaminant effects on DNA from blood and semen and the effect of typing DNA extracted from body fluid samples deposited on various substrates. A second set of experiments was performed strictly on human hair shafts. These studies included typing mtDNA from hairs that were: (1) from different body areas, (2) chemically treated, (3) from deceased individuals, and (4) deliberately contaminated with various body fluids. The data confirm that PCR-based mtDNA typing by direct automated sequencing is a valid and reliable means of forensic identification.
367 citations
Related Topics (5)
Performance Metrics
| Year | Papers |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 |
| 2025 | 45 |
| 2024 | 46 |
| 2023 | 58 |
| 2022 | 71 |
| 2021 | 23 |