The Evaluation of Forensic DNA Evidence
By addebook • Sep 8th, 2008 • Category: Medicine •
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The Evaluation of Forensic DNA Evidence
The Evaluation of Forensic DNA Evidence
By Committee on DNA Forensic Science: An Update, National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Number Of Pages: 272
Publication Date: 1996-12-12
ISBN-10 / ASIN: 0309053951
ISBN-13 / EAN: 9780309053952
Binding: Hardcover
In 1992 the National Research Council issued DNA Technology in Forensic Science, a book that documented the state of the art in this emerging field. Recently, this volume was brought to worldwide attention in the murder trial of celebrity O. J. Simpson. The Evaluation of Forensic DNA Evidence reports on developments in population genetics and statistics since the original volume was published. The committee comments on statements in the original book that proved controversial or that have been misapplied in the courts. This volume offers recommendations for handling DNA samples, performing calculations, and other aspects of using DNA as a forensic tool–modifying some recommendations presented in the 1992 volume. The update addresses two major areas:
Determination of DNA profiles. The committee considers how laboratory errors (particularly false matches) can arise, how errors might be reduced, and how to take into account the fact that the error rate can never be reduced to zero.
Interpretation of a finding that the DNA profile of a suspect or victim matches the evidence DNA. The committee addresses controversies in population genetics, exploring the problems that arise from the mixture of groups and subgroups in the American population and how this substructure can be accounted for in calculating frequencies. This volume examines statistical issues in interpreting frequencies as probabilities, including adjustments when a suspect is found through a database search.
The committee includes a detailed discussion of what its recommendations would mean in the courtroom, with numerous case citations. By resolving several remaining issues in the evaluation of this increasingly important area of forensic evidence, this technical update will be important to forensic scientists and population geneticists–and helpful to attorneys, judges, and others who need to understand DNA and the law. Anyone working in laboratories and in the courts or anyone studying this issue should own this book.
Summary: Not for the average reader
Rating: 3
I was surprised to find this book in my recommendation list; I purchased Butler’s excellent Forensic DNA typing text in the past which is why I’m guessing it was recommended — I see it also comes up on searches for “forensic DNA.”
This is a warning to people who might be interested in the field of forensic DNA but possibly not work in it. If you do work in the field, it’s likely that your lab already owns of a copy of this seminal text as well as its predecessor, NRC1 (1992).
For the rest of you, this book is most likely not appropriate for what you are looking to learn. This text was published when the use of DNA for forensic applications was still new and untested; it set recommendations on how labs should interpret DNA evidence results, on the methods that should be used and the considerations that should be taken when coming to conclusions based on DNA evidence. Why? Because no one knew. 12 years after this text was published, many of the methods described within have been made obsolete, only employed by developing countries whose police forces may not have the funding to employ modern methods. Furthermore, several of the sticky issues from the past are no longer relevant as new typing systems are much more precise and have much less ambiguity in interpretation.
While the concepts within are in practice in some form in all forensic DNA labs in the US, it is unlikely that the average armchair criminalist will find much use with this text — maybe if you’re setting up your own forensic DNA lab from scratch, or if you are really hardcore into the history of forensic DNA, but most of us have no need of this text.
If you’re interested in forensic DNA as someone who just wants to learn more or are interested in getting a position in the field, I recommend Butler’s text over this one.
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