- 01 Introduction
- 02 Biology of DNA
- 03 Practical Issues Specific to DNA Evidence
- 04 Introduction to the Forensic DNA Laboratory
- 05 Assuring Quality in DNA Testing
- 06 Understanding a Forensic DNA Lab Report
- 07 Statistics and Population Genetics
- 08 Mitochondrial DNA & Y-STR Analysis
- 09 Forensic DNA Databases
- 10 Collection of DNA Evidence from Suspects and Arrestees
- 11 Pretrial DNA Evidence Issues
- 12 Victim Issues
- 13 Trial Presentation
- 14 Postconviction DNA Cases
- 15 Emerging Trends
Principles of Forensic DNA
for Officers of the Court
for Officers of the Court
Module 8 :: mtDNA & Y-STR
Topic 2 :: mtDNA Laboratory Analysis
Reportable Outcomes
An mtDNA analysis has two primary reportable outcomes:
- Failure to exclude: "The mtDNA sequences of hair sample A and person B share a common nucleotide at all positions. Therefore, person B and his/her maternal relatives cannot be excluded as the contributor of hair sample A." In this outcome, a statistical context for the failure to exclude is provided.
- Exclusion: "The mtDNA sequences of hair sample A and person B are different. Therefore, person B and his/her maternal relatives are excluded as the contributor of hair sample A." Because a single nucleotide mutation can occur within a person, at least two nucleotide differences must be observed for an exclusion.
In both cases, the report accounts for the fact that person B's maternal relatives have the same mtDNA type as person B.
