Work

Decreased accuracy of forensic DNA mixture analysis for groups with lower genetic diversity

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Forensic investigation of DNA samples from multiple contributors has become commonplace. These complex analyses use statistical frameworks accounting for multiple levels of uncertainty in allelic contributions from different individuals, particularly for samples containing few molecules of DNA. These methods have been thoroughly tested along some axes of variation, but less attention has been paid to accuracy across human genetic variation. Here, we quantify the accuracy of DNA mixture analysis over 83 human groups. We find higher false inclusion rates for mixtures with more contributors and for groups with lower genetic diversity. Even for three-contributor mixtures where two contributors are known and the reference group is correctly specified, false inclusion rates are 1e-5 or higher for 36 out of 83 groups. This means that, depending on multiple testing, some false inclusions may be expected. These false positives could be lessened with more selective and conservative use of DNA mixture analysis.

Source: iScience

DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.111067

Authors: Maria Flores, Evan Ho, Cara Ly, Niquo Ceberio, Miguel Guardado, Kamillah Felix, Hannah Mariko Thorner, Matt Paunovich, Chris Godek, Carina Kalaydjian, Rori V. Rohlfs

Institutions: University of California, Los Angeles, San Francisco State University, University of California, Santa Cruz, Yale University, Northern Arizona University, University of California, San Francisco, University of Oregon, George Washington University

Language: English

Topic: Forensic and Genetic Research

Subfield: Genetics

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,150

Funders: National Science Foundation, Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Genentech Foundation, National Institutes of Health, Genentech, University of California, San Francisco, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institute of Justice, UCSF Foundation, Life Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles

Awards: Quantifying the Accuracy of Two Innovative Forensic Genetic Identification Techniques: Genealogical Searching and Low-Template DNA Mixture Analysis, G3298864666, G503684719, CAREER: Identifying the Role of Tandem Repeats in Great Ape Adaptation through Undergraduate Team Research Using a Novel Statistical Framework, SFSU MBRS - RISE, G8124384794, G8495390331, G9000009923, G9000305760, Predoctoral Training Program in Genetics

OpenAlex ID: W4402945692

FWCI: 1.441

Cites: 113

Cited by: 6

Related to: 10