Susan Pope

Consideration of the probative value of single donor 15-plex STR profiles in UK populations and its presentation in UK courts

The adoption of new 15 locus STR multiplex systems into UK forensic science would be facilitated by agreed guidelines for reporting the strength of DNA evidence using likelihood ratios. To facilitate such an agreement, we present an analysis of previously published UK allele frequencies for white Caucasian, Afro-Caribbean and Indo-Pakistani populations and investigate their effect on likelihood ratios for single donor profiles. We consider the implication of the five additional loci and suggest a procedure for reporting likelihood ratios for 15-plex STR profiles.

Is it to the advantage of a defendant to infer a greater number of contributors to a questioned sample than is necessary to explain the observed DNA profile

When a forensic scientist presents the results of a comparison between a DNA profile from a questioned sample with that of a defendant the interpretation will be based on the premise of a given number of contributors. It is quite common practice for defence counsel to ask how consideration of a greater number of putative contributors to the profile would affect the interpretation. This note discusses the response to such a request.

The Effect of Bone Marrow Transplants on DNA profiles; a case example

A case was received in which a woman suspected that she had been sexually assaulted or raped while unconscious, with a request to establish whether a profile suitable for the National DNA Database could be obtained. Mixed DNA profiles were obtained from the external vaginal swab, body fluids on the knickers and a reference buccal swab taken from the complainant. Samples of blood and hair from her gave DNA profiles that were different to each other. Further enquiries revealed that she had received a bone marrow transplant (BMT) as a treatment for leukaemia. This article describes the results obtained in this case, together with the possible effect of a BMT on casework and the impact on the NDNAD. Se recibi6 un caso en el cud una mujer, que sospechaba que habia sido violada estando inconsciente, solicitaba si se podia obtener un perfil adecuado para la base de datos nacional de ADN. Se obtuvieron perfiles de ADN mezclados, de la victirna, a partir de torundas vaginales externas, fluidos biol6gicos en las bragas y una torunda bucal de referencia. Muestras de sangre y pel0 de ella dieron perfiles que eran diferentes entre si. Posteriores informaciones pusieron de manifiesto que habia sufrido un trasplante de mCdula 6sea (BMT) como tratamiento de leucemia. Este articulo describe 10s resultados obtenidos en este caso junto con el posible efecto de un trasplante de m6dula en el trabajo de rutina y su impact0 en la base de datos nacional de ADN. In einem Fall hegte eine Frau den Verdacht, dass sie wtihrend einer Bewusstlosigkeit sexuell genotigt bzw. vergewaltigt worden war und fragte an, ob ein fur die National DNA database (staatliche DNA-Datenbank - UK) geeignetes Profil erstellt werden konnte. Verschiedene DNA-Profile konnten mittels eines externen Vaginalabstrichs, Kijrperflussigkeiten auf der Unterhose und einem bukkalen Vergleichsabstrich der Beschwerdefiihrerin angefertigt werden. Blut- und Haarproben der Frau lieferten DNA-Profile, die sich voneinander unterschieden. Weitere Ermittlungen ergaben, dass sie eine Knochenmarkstransplantation (bone marrow transplant - BMT) bei einer Leuktebehandlung erhalten hatte. Dieser beschreibt die gewonnenen Ergebnisse in diesem Fall im Zusammenhang mit der moglichen Auswirkung einer BMT bei der

Providing scientific guidance on DNA to the judiciary

A series of short documents have been written in response to a request from the UK Judiciary for explanations of research that was commissioned in response to questions they had raised. These related principally to the potential impact of primer binding site mutation (PBSM) but it became clear at an early stage that it was necessary to explain related issues. The three scientific guidance papers (SGPs) that have been prepared thus far are presented in their entirety so that UK scientists may be aware of what has been presented to judges. Suggestions for further work, including possible communication to jurors are discussed.