Forensic DNA profiling

Kinship analyses represent a significant proportion of the workload of laboratories offering DNA profiling analyses. The same laboratories are also commonly called upon to assist in the analysis of identification problems in criminal cases, notably when a crime-related biological stain is recovered and there is a need to find its donor.

The evaluation of such scenarios involves subtle statistical analyses. Nevertheless, actors confronted with DNA profiling results should also have knowledge regarding the major technologically subtle laboratory operations that need to be performed in order to obtain a DNA profile from raw biological material. This workshop will focus on this latter aspect.

Workshop objectives

The aim of this workshop is to provide basic knowledge about the laboratory operations used for forensic DNA profiling (no statistical issues will be addressed).
Specifically, this workshop intends to:

• > familiarize the participant with the fundamental concepts and analytical issues that underpin modern forensic DNA profiling analyses;
• > draw the attendee's attention to the conceptual differences between raw data produced by laboratory instruments (e.g. electropherograms) and the alphanumerical expression of a DNA profile presented in laboratory reports (e.g. a table of alleles);
• > enable the participant to approach DNA profiling results coherently.

Participants will get an opportunity to:

• > attend a laboratory session that will include (a) an introduction to the various analytical instruments and related software and (b) a demonstration of how this equipment is operated by specialized laboratory personnel;
• > get acquainted with and recognize critical analytical steps and recurring problems that may crucially affect subsequent evaluative procedures;
• > acquire basic skills to improve their competence in reviewing cases involving DNA profiling results (reading scientific records and electronic data);
• > improve their understanding of how DNA evidence is generated and used for kinship analyses and crime stain processing (including topics such as mixtures, partial profiles and database searches).

Material, requirements and target audience

This workshop is suitable for individuals with a modest scientific background who wish to complement basic prior knowledge of the use of DNA profiling analyses in legal proceedings by a practical demonstration of the various analytical operations performed in forensic DNA laboratories.

This workshop is limited to 20 participants.

Instructors

Vincent Castella, Christian Gehrig, Catherine Albrecht, and Ka-Man Pun.