Abstract
The effect of a structured population on the evaluation of forensic mixed stains has been considered by the authors and others. However, in countries with multiple racial or ethnic groups, it is not uncommon that contributors to a DNA mixture are of different ethnic groups. A famous example is the OJ Simpson case in which the suspect was an African-American, the victims were Caucasian Americans and the true perpetrator(s) could be from any ethnic group(s). In this paper six common mixture cases are considered and the formulae for likelihood ratios are derived. These formulae can help forensic DNA scientists acquire a better understanding of the problem. The effect of different ethnic groups is illustrated using a case in Hong Kong.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Balding DJ, Nichols RA (1994) DNA profile match probability calculation: how to allow for population stratification, relatedness, database selection and single bands. Forensic Sci Int 64: 125–140
Buckleton JS, Evett IW, Weir BS (1998) Setting bounds for the likelihood ratio when multiple hypotheses are postulated. Sci Justice 38: 23–26
Curran JM, Triggs CM, Nuckleton J, Weir BS (1999) Interpreting DNA mixtures in structured populations. J Forensic Sci 44: 987–995
Devlin B, Risch N (1993) Physical properties of VNTR data, and their impact on a test of allelic independence. Am J Hum Genet 53: 324–329
Evett IW, Buffery C, Wilcott G, Stoney D (1991) A guide to interpreting single locus profiles of DNA mixtures in forensic case. J Forensic Sci Soc 31: 41–47
Fukshansky N, Bär W (1998) Interpreting forensic DNA evidence on the basis of hypotheses testing. Int J Legal Med 111: 62–66
Fukshansky N, Bär W (1999) Biostatistical evaluation of mixed stains with contributors of different ethnic origin. Int J Legal Med 112: 383–387
Fung WK (1996) Tests on independence of VNTR alleles in the Chinese population in Hong Kong. In: Lee JC, Johnson WO, Zellner A (eds) Modelling and prediction. Springer, New York, pp 294–304
Fung WK, Hu YQ (2000a) Interpreting forensic DNA mixtures: allowing for uncertainty in population substructure and dependence. J R Stat Soc A 163: 241–254
Fung WK, Hu YQ (2000b) Interpreting DNA mixtures based on the NRC-II recommendation 4.1. Forensic Sci Commun 2(4): 1–9 (available at http://www.fbi.gov/hq/lab/fsc/backissu/oct2000/fung.htm)
Fung WK, Hu YQ (2001) The evaluation of mixed stains from different ethnic origin: general result and common cases. Int J Legal Med (in press)
National Research Council Report (1996) The evaluation of forensic DNA evidence. National Academy Press, Washington DC
Pu CE, Hsieh CM, Chen MY, Wu FC, Sun, CF (1999) Genetic variation at nine STR loci in populations from the Philippines and Thailand living in Taiwan. Forensic Sci Int 106: 1–6
Triggs CM, Harbison SA, Buckleton J (2000) The calculation of DNA match probabilities in mixed race populations. Sci Justice 40: 33–38
Weir BS, Triggs CM, Starling L, Stowell LI, Walsh KAJ, Buckleton J (1997) Interpreting DNA mixtures. J Forensic Sci 42: 213–222
Wong DM, Law MY, Fung WK, Chan KL, Li C, Lun TS, Lai KM, Cheung KY, Chiu CT (2001) Population data for 12 STR loci in Hong Kong Chinese. Int J Legal Med 114: 281–284
Wright S (1951) The genetical structure of populations. Ann Eugen 15: 323–354
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Fung, W.K., Hu, YQ. The statistical evaluation of DNA mixtures with contributors from different ethnic groups. Int J Legal Med 116, 79–86 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004140100256
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004140100256