DNA Technology in Forensic Science -- Copyright -- Preface -- A Statement by the Committee on DNA Technology in Forensic Science -- Contents -- Summary -- TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS -- Recommendations -- STATISTICAL BASIS FOR INTERPRETATION -- Recommendations -- STANDARDS -- Recommendations -- DATABANKS AND PRIVACY OF INFORMATION -- Recommendations -- DNA INFORMATION IN THE LEGAL SYSTEM -- Recommendations -- DNA TYPING AND SOCIETY -- Recommendations -- 1 Introduction -- BACKGROUND -- GENETIC BASIS OF DNA TYPING -- STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF DNA -- Individual Variation in DNA -- TECHNOLOGICAL BASIS OF DNA TYPING -- Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms -- Polymerase Chain Reaction for Amplifying DNA -- POPULATION GENETICS RELEVANT TO THE INTERPRETATION OF DNA TYPING -- Estimating the Frequency of Alleles in Populations -- Population Substructure -- CHARACTERISTICS OF AN OPTIMAL FORENSIC DNA TYPING SYSTEM -- REFERENCES -- 2 DNA Typing: Technical Considerations -- ESSENTIALS OF A FORENSIC DNA TYPING PROCEDURE -- Scientific Foundations -- Written Laboratory Protocol -- Procedure For Identifying Patterns -- Procedure For Declaring a Match -- Identification of Potential Artifacts -- Sensitivity to Quantity, Mixture, and Contamination -- Experiential Foundation -- Publication and Scientific Scrutiny -- TECHNICAL ISSUES IN RFLP ANALYSIS -- Choice of Probes -- Southern Blot Preparation -- Identification of DNA Patterns -- Examination of a Control Pattern -- Single-Band Patterns -- Anomalous Bands -- Reporting of Anomalies -- Measurement of Fragments -- Match Criteria -- Retention of Sample -- TECHNICAL ISSUES IN PCR-BASED METHODS -- Technical Issues Related to Amplification -- Amplification Conditions -- Qualitative and Quantitative Fidelity -- Amplification Inhibition -- Contamination -- Issues Related to Detection of Amplified Product.

Reverse Dot Hybridization -- Other Detection Methods -- Use of Kits -- Prospects of PCR-Based Methods -- NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON FORENSIC DNA TYPING -- SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS -- REFERENCES -- 3 DNA Typing: Statistical Basis for Interpretation -- ESTIMATING THE POPULATION FREQUENCY OF A DNA PATTERN -- Estimating Frequencies of DNA Patterns by Counting -- Estimating Frequencies of DNA Patterns with the Multiplication Rule(Product Rule) -- Validity of Multiplication Rule and Population Substructure -- Basis of Concern About Population Substructure -- Assessing Population Substructure Requires Direct Sampling of EthnicGroups -- The Ceiling Principle: Accounting for Population Substructure -- DETERMINING ALLELE FREQUENCIES IN A POPULATION DATABANK -- IMPLICATIONS OF GENETIC CORRELATIONS AMONG RELATIVES -- IMPLICATIONS OF INCREASED POWER OF DNA TYPING COMPARED WITH CONVENTIONALSEROLOGY -- LABORATORY ERROR RATES -- TOWARD A FIRM FOUNDATION FOR STATISTICAL INTERPRETATION -- Population Studies to Set Ceiling Frequencies -- Reporting of Statistical Results -- Openness of Population Databanks -- Reporting of Laboratory Error Rates -- SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS -- REFERENCES -- 4 Ensuring High Standards -- DEFINING THE PRINCIPLES OF QUALITY ASSURANCE -- POTENTIAL METHODS FOR ENSURING QUALITY -- Certification of Individuals -- Laboratory Accreditation -- Licensing of Laboratories -- Funding Contingent On Adherence to Standards -- QUALITY ASSURANCE IN RELATED FIELDS -- INITIAL EFFORTS TOWARD ESTABLISHING STANDARDS IN FORENSIC DNA TYPING -- A REGULATORY PROGRAM FOR DNA TYPING -- Components of a Suitable Program -- The Role of Professional Organizations -- The Role of Government -- Support for Education, Training, and Research -- SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS -- REFERENCES -- 5 Forensic DNA Databanks and Privacy of Information.

COMPARISON OF DNA PROFILES AND LATENT FINGERPRINTS -- CONFIDENTIALITY AND SECURITY -- METHODOLOGICAL STANDARDIZATION -- COST VERSUS BENEFIT -- WHOSE SAMPLES SHOULD BE INCLUDED? -- Samples from Convicted Offenders -- Samples from Suspects -- Samples from Victims -- Samples from Missing Persons and Unidentified Bodies -- Crime-Scene Samples from Unidentified Persons -- Samples from Members of the General Population -- Samples from Anonymous Persons for Population Genetics -- SAMPLE STORAGE -- INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED AND MAINTAINED IN A DATABANK -- RULES ON ACCESSIBILITY -- STATISTICAL INTERPRETATION OF DATABANK MATCHES -- STATUS OF DATABANK DEVELOPMENT -- State Level -- Federal Level -- MODEL COOPERATIVE INFORMATION RESOURCE -- SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS -- REFERENCES -- 6 Use of DNA Information in the Legal System -- ADMISSIBILITY -- The Frye Test -- Admissibility According to the Helpfulness Standard -- Cases on Admissibility of DNA Evidence Under the Federal Rules -- Recent Appellate Opinions -- Admissibility Statutes -- DNA DATABANKS ON CONVICTED FELONS: LEGAL ASPECTS -- ASSESSING THE ADMISSIBILITY OF EVIDENCE BASED ON RESULTS OF FURTHERADVANCES IN DNA TECHNOLOGY -- SUGGESTIONS FOR USE OF DNA EVIDENCE -- DNA EVIDENCE AND THE VARIOUS PARTIES IN THE LEGAL SYSTEM -- The Jury -- The Prosecutor -- The Defense -- TESTING LABORATORIES -- PROTECTIVE ORDERS -- AVAILABILITY AND COST OF EXPERTS -- SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS -- REFERENCES AND FOOTNOTES -- 7 DNA Typing and Society -- ECONOMIC ASPECTS -- ETHICAL ASPECTS -- Moral Rights -- Nonmonetary Costs and Benefits -- ABUSE AND MISUSE OF DNA INFORMATION -- EXPECTATIONS -- ACCOUNTABILITY AND PUBLIC SCRUTINY -- INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE -- SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS -- REFERENCES -- Organizational Abbreviations -- Glossary -- Biographical Information on Committee Members -- Participants -- Index.