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| Acknowledgments | |
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| Introduction | |
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| The Structure of DNA and the Variability of the Human DNA Sequence | |
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| You Are Out of Your Field, But Not Out of Your Depth | |
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| Markers, Alleles, Genotypes and Profiles | |
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| The Two Sources of DNA in Human Cells | |
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| The Structure of DNA and RNA | |
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| Variability Is the Rule, Not the Exception | |
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| Polymorphisms Commonly Used for Forensic Testing | |
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| Using the DNA Profile to Identify an Unknown Perpetrator | |
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| References and Additional Readings | |
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| The Molecular Biological Basis of Forensic DNA Tests | |
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| Extraction and Quantification of DNA | |
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| Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)-Based Tests | |
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| Variable Number of Tandem Repeats (VNTR) Testing | |
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| Direct Sequencing | |
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| References and Additional Readings | |
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| Quality Control, Quality Assurance and Sources of Uncertainty in the Data | |
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| Laboratory Accreditation, Personnel Certification and Proficiency Testing | |
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| Validation Studies | |
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| The Inevitable Nemeses: Suboptimal Samples and Human Error | |
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| Allele Dropout Due to Degradation, Preferential Amplification and Stochastic Effects | |
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| Artifacts Inherent in STR Analyses | |
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| Hybridization Specificity in Dot-Blot Tests | |
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| References and Additional Readings | |
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| Population Genetics, Probability Calculations and the Proper Interpretation of the Evidence | |
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| The Common Logical Fallacies | |
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| Databanks and Databases | |
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| Allele Frequencies, Genotype Probabilities and the Product Rule for Independent Events | |
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| The Principles of Population Genetics that Impact Forensic DNA Calculations | |
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| Applying the Product Rule-Compensating for Population Substructure and Possible Allele Dropout | |
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| The Likelihood Ratio (LR) Allows the Analyst to Compare the Strength of Competing Hypotheses | |
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| The Application of Bayes' Theorem to Paternity Disputes | |
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| Recommended Procedure for Analyzing Mixed Samples | |
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| References and Additional Readings | |
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| Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) Analyses | |
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| The mtDNA Molecule-Abundant and Durable but Less Variable than nDNA | |
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| Laboratory Analysis of mtDNA Haplotypes | |
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| Matrilineal Inheritance and a Lack of Recombination | |
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| A High Mutation Rate Leads to Mitochondrial Heteroplasmy | |
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| Statistical Analysis of mtDNA Haplotype Data | |
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| References and Additional Readings | |
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| Y Chromosome Analyses | |
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| Y Chromosome Evolution and its Consequences for Forensic Analyses | |
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| Laboratory Analysis of Y Chromosome Haplotypes | |
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| Statistical Analysis of Y Chromosome Haplotypes | |
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| References and Additional Readings | |
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| DNA in Court | |
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| The Evolution of Standards for Admissibility of Experts and Evidence | |
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| The Ongoing Controversy Regarding Laboratory Error Rates | |
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| Counsels' Obligations Regarding Discovery | |
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| Expert Witnesses | |
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| The Durability of DNA Presents Problems for Statutes of Limitation | |
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| Rape Shield Laws May Limit the Use of DNA Evidence | |
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| Judges' and Jurors' Perceptions of DNA Evidence | |
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| References and Additional Readings | |
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| Arguing for the Prosecution | |
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| Obtaining DNA Samples | |
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| DNA in the Courtroom: The Essentials of the Prosecution's Presentation | |
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| References and Additional Readings | |
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| Arguing for the Defense | |
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| The Defense's Choice of Strategy | |
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| Elements of a Competent Defense | |
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| When the Defendant Has Been Identified by a Databank Search | |
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| References and Additional Readings | |
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| Postconviction DNA Testing | |
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| DNA has the Power to Exonerate the Innocent | |
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| Avenues for Relief | |
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| There Are Many Procedural Obstacles | |
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| New Evidence May Justify a New Theory of the Case | |
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| Accessing the Necessary Samples | |
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| Know the Specific Provisions of the Controlling Statute | |
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| References and Additional Readings | |
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| Using the Chi-Square Test to Determine if a Population Conforms to HWE Expectations | |
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| How the RMP, Prior Odds of Guilt, and the PFP Influence the Posterior Odds of Guilt (POG) | |
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| Paternity Index (PI) Calculations for Different Combinations of Maternal, Child and Alleged Father Genotypes | |
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| A Sample Consent Form to Collect an Oral Swab, Which Allows the Profile Obtained to Be Entered Into a Databank for Use in Additional Investigations | |
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| Doing Your Own Research: Useful References, Websites and Strategies for Finding Current Information | |
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| Glossary of Key Terms | |
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| Index | |