Article: 10% or 5% match window in DNA profiling

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Title10% or 5% match window in DNA profiling
AuthorsFung, WK1
KeywordsBin size
DNA profiling
Fixed bins
Match window size
Match-binning
Issue Date1996
PublisherElsevier Ireland Ltd. The Journal's web site is located at http://www.elsevier.com/locate/forsciint
CitationForensic Science International, 1996, v. 78 n. 2, p. 111-118 [How to Cite?]
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0379-0738(95)01876-X
AbstractThough the FBI repeatedly claims that the width of the window of the matching criterion they use in DNA profiling is 5%, it is shown that the width is indeed 10%. This fact has been noticed by some people but seems unknown to many. However, no one seems to be aware of the fundamental problem it creates to the fixed bin method employed by the FBI and some other laboratories because about half of the bins have sizes less than 10%. In other words, the probability for a random match of the DNA fragments from the crime scene and from the suspect could be underestimated. The problem may have serious implications for commonly adopted legal and forensic practices. The potential seriousness of underestimating the match probability is illustrated using the Hong Kong Chinese database.
ISSN0379-0738
2011 Impact Factor: 2.301
2011 SCImago Journal Rankings: 0.140
DOIhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0379-0738(95)01876-X
ISI Accession Number IDWOS:A1996UJ02400004
ReferencesReferences in Scopus
DC Field
Value
dc.contributor.authorFung, WK
dc.date.accessioned2010-09-06T08:34:11Z
dc.date.available2010-09-06T08:34:11Z
dc.date.issued1996
dc.description.abstractThough the FBI repeatedly claims that the width of the window of the matching criterion they use in DNA profiling is 5%, it is shown that the width is indeed 10%. This fact has been noticed by some people but seems unknown to many. However, no one seems to be aware of the fundamental problem it creates to the fixed bin method employed by the FBI and some other laboratories because about half of the bins have sizes less than 10%. In other words, the probability for a random match of the DNA fragments from the crime scene and from the suspect could be underestimated. The problem may have serious implications for commonly adopted legal and forensic practices. The potential seriousness of underestimating the match probability is illustrated using the Hong Kong Chinese database.
dc.description.natureLink_to_subscribed_fulltext
dc.identifier.citationForensic Science International, 1996, v. 78 n. 2, p. 111-118 [How to Cite?]
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0379-0738(95)01876-X
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0379-0738(95)01876-X
dc.identifier.epage118
dc.identifier.hkuros11584
dc.identifier.isiWOS:A1996UJ02400004
dc.identifier.issn0379-0738
2011 Impact Factor: 2.301
2011 SCImago Journal Rankings: 0.140
dc.identifier.issue2
dc.identifier.openurl
dc.identifier.scopuseid_2-s2.0-0029917516
dc.identifier.spage111
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10722/82855
dc.identifier.volume78
dc.languageeng
dc.publisherElsevier Ireland Ltd. The Journal's web site is located at http://www.elsevier.com/locate/forsciint
dc.publisher.placeIreland
dc.relation.ispartofForensic Science International
dc.relation.referencesReferences in Scopus
dc.rightsForensic Science International. Copyright © Elsevier Ireland Ltd.
dc.subjectBin size
dc.subjectDNA profiling
dc.subjectFixed bins
dc.subjectMatch window size
dc.subjectMatch-binning
dc.title10% or 5% match window in DNA profiling
dc.typeArticle
Author Affiliations
  1. The University of Hong Kong