Litigator's Guide to DNA From the Laboratory to the Courtroom image
Litigator's Guide to DNA From the Laboratory to the Courtroom Michaelis, Ron C. Edition: 2008 Publisher: Elsevier Science & Technology Books Number of Pages: 448 ISBN10: 0123740363 ISBN13: 9780123740366 Dimensions: 7.75" w x 10.00" l x 1.25" h Weight: 2.77 lbs. Binding: Trade Cloth Language: English List Price: 96.95

Description

Simply a crucial read, A Litigator's Guide to DNA educates litigators, judges, criminalists, students and others about all aspects of the use of DNA evidence in criminal and civil trials. It includes discussions of the molecular biological basis for the tests, essential laboratory practices, probability theory and mathematical calculations, and issues relevant to the prosecution and the defense, a...Simply a crucial read, A Litigator's Guide to DNA educates litigators, judges, criminalists, students and others about all aspects of the use of DNA evidence in criminal and civil trials. It includes discussions of the molecular biological basis for the tests, essential laboratory practices, probability theory and mathematical calculations, and issues relevant to the prosecution and the defense, and to the judge and jury hearing the case. The work is also extremely useful as a text for students aspiring to careers in forensic science and criminal law. The authors provide a full background on both the molecular biology and the mathematical theory behind forensic tests, describing the molecular biological process in simple mechanical terms that are familiar to everyone, and periodically emphasizing the practical, "take-home" messages the litigator truly needs to understand. * "Recapping the Main Point" boxes provide a simple and concise summary of the main points * Includes a glossary of essential terms and their definitions * Contains a full-color insert with illustrations that emphasize key conceptsThe Structure of DNA and the Variability of the Human DNA Sequence; The Molecular Biological Basis of Forensic DNA Tests; Quality Control, Quality Assurance and Sources of Uncertainty in the Data; Population Genetics, Probability Calculations and the Proper Interpretation of the Evidence; Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) Analyses; Y Chromosome Analyses; DNA in Court; Arguing for the Prosecution; Arguing for the Defense; Post-Conviction DNA Testing; Using the Chi Square Test to Determine if a Population Conforms to HWE Expectations; How the RMP, Prior Odds of Guilt, and the PFP Influence the Posterior Odds of Guilty (POG); Peternity Index (PI) Calculations for Different Combinations of Maternal, Child and Alleged Father Genotypes; Sample Consent Form; Doing Your Own Research: Useful References, Websites and Strategies for Finding Current InformationPaula H. Wulff is the Program Manager and Senior Attorney for the National District Attorneys Association / American Prosecutors Research Institute's DNA Forensics Program.Robert G. Flanders, Jr., Esq. is a partner in the law firm of Hinckley, Allen & Snyder LLP, and a former Rhode Island Supreme Court Justice.Ron C. Michaelis is currently a visiting assistant professor in the Biology Department of Western Carolina University."A Litigator's Guide to DNA is an excellent resource for litigators, judges, criminalists and students of forensic science or law. The book includes discussions of the molecular biological basis for DNA testing, essential laboratory practices, probability theory and mathematical calculations, and issues relevant to the prosecution, the defense, and the judge and jury hearing the case. By describing the biological processes in simple mechanical terms that are familiar to everyone, and in emphasizing the practical "take-home" messages the litigator truly needs to understand, A Litigator's Guide to DNA is the first book to take the complicated science of DNA and boil it down into terms that the non-scientist can understand."--BOOK JACKET.A Litigator's Guide to DNA educates litigators, judges, criminalists, students, and others about all aspects of the use of DNA evidence in criminal and civil trials. It includes discussions of the molecular biological basis for the tests, essential laboratory practices, probability theory and mathematical calculations. It presents issues relevant to all parties involved in trying a case, from the prosecution and the defense, and to the judge and jury. The book is also extremely useful as a text for students aspiring to careers in forensic science and criminal law. The authors provide a full background on both the molecular biology and the mathematical theory behind forensic tests written specifically for people with little or no science background. No other book relates the foundational information on molecular biology and statistics to legal practice issues as extensively as this book does. * "Recapping the Main Point" boxes provide a simple and concise summary of the main points * Includes a glossary of essential terms and their definitions * Contains a full-color insert with illustrations that emphasize key conceptsAs the use of DNA evidence in trials becomes more and more common, it is essential for all litigators to possess a working knowledge of the topic in order to argue effectively in court. The combined expertise of this unique team of authors, consisting of a DNA expert, a prosecutor and a former judge, enables the book to cover all aspects of the use of DNA evidence in one straightforward, easy-to-digest volume. (more) (less)

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Introduction
The Structure of DNA and the Variability of the Human DNA Sequence
You Are Out of Your Field, But Not Out of Your Depth
Markers, Alleles, Genotypes and Profiles
The Two Sources of DNA in Human Cells
The Structure of DNA and RNA
Variability Is the Rule, Not the Exception
Polymorphisms Commonly Used for Forensic Testing
Using the DNA Profile to Identify an Unknown Perpetrator
References and Additional Readings
The Molecular Biological Basis of Forensic DNA Tests
Extraction and Quantification of DNA
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)-Based Tests
Variable Number of Tandem Repeats (VNTR) Testing
Direct Sequencing
References and Additional Readings
Quality Control, Quality Assurance and Sources of Uncertainty in the Data
Laboratory Accreditation, Personnel Certification and Proficiency Testing
Validation Studies
The Inevitable Nemeses: Suboptimal Samples and Human Error
Allele Dropout Due to Degradation, Preferential Amplification and Stochastic Effects
Artifacts Inherent in STR Analyses
Hybridization Specificity in Dot-Blot Tests
References and Additional Readings
Population Genetics, Probability Calculations and the Proper Interpretation of the Evidence
The Common Logical Fallacies
Databanks and Databases
Allele Frequencies, Genotype Probabilities and the Product Rule for Independent Events
The Principles of Population Genetics that Impact Forensic DNA Calculations
Applying the Product Rule-Compensating for Population Substructure and Possible Allele Dropout
The Likelihood Ratio (LR) Allows the Analyst to Compare the Strength of Competing Hypotheses
The Application of Bayes' Theorem to Paternity Disputes
Recommended Procedure for Analyzing Mixed Samples
References and Additional Readings
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) Analyses
The mtDNA Molecule-Abundant and Durable but Less Variable than nDNA
Laboratory Analysis of mtDNA Haplotypes
Matrilineal Inheritance and a Lack of Recombination
A High Mutation Rate Leads to Mitochondrial Heteroplasmy
Statistical Analysis of mtDNA Haplotype Data
References and Additional Readings
Y Chromosome Analyses
Y Chromosome Evolution and its Consequences for Forensic Analyses
Laboratory Analysis of Y Chromosome Haplotypes
Statistical Analysis of Y Chromosome Haplotypes
References and Additional Readings
DNA in Court
The Evolution of Standards for Admissibility of Experts and Evidence
The Ongoing Controversy Regarding Laboratory Error Rates
Counsels' Obligations Regarding Discovery
Expert Witnesses
The Durability of DNA Presents Problems for Statutes of Limitation
Rape Shield Laws May Limit the Use of DNA Evidence
Judges' and Jurors' Perceptions of DNA Evidence
References and Additional Readings
Arguing for the Prosecution
Obtaining DNA Samples
DNA in the Courtroom: The Essentials of the Prosecution's Presentation
References and Additional Readings
Arguing for the Defense
The Defense's Choice of Strategy
Elements of a Competent Defense
When the Defendant Has Been Identified by a Databank Search
References and Additional Readings
Postconviction DNA Testing
DNA has the Power to Exonerate the Innocent
Avenues for Relief
There Are Many Procedural Obstacles
New Evidence May Justify a New Theory of the Case
Accessing the Necessary Samples
Know the Specific Provisions of the Controlling Statute
References and Additional Readings
Using the Chi-Square Test to Determine if a Population Conforms to HWE Expectations
How the RMP, Prior Odds of Guilt, and the PFP Influence the Posterior Odds of Guilt (POG)
Paternity Index (PI) Calculations for Different Combinations of Maternal, Child and Alleged Father Genotypes
A Sample Consent Form to Collect an Oral Swab, Which Allows the Profile Obtained to Be Entered Into a Databank for Use in Additional Investigations
Doing Your Own Research: Useful References, Websites and Strategies for Finding Current Information
Glossary of Key Terms
Index

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