Abstract
In parentage testing using DNA markers, the formulae for calculating the probability of exclusion generally overstate the power of a test battery by considering its ability to exclude a random man. It is know that in many cases, in particular immigration applications, the false father is more likely to be a relative, e.g. brother, of the true father than an unrelated man. This work presents formulae that take this consideration into account. A practical example using Hong Kong data is provided to illustrate the effect of the modification. Also discussed is how the expected efficacy of a test battery will be affected when possible mutations and null alleles or genetic inconsistencies are taken into consideration.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Brinkmann B, Pfeiffer H, Schürenkamp M, Hohoff C (2001) The evidential value of STRs: an analysis of exclusion cases. Int J Legal Med 114: 173–177
Chakraborty R, Shaw MW, Schull WJ (1974) Exclusion of paternity: the current state of the art. Am J Hum Genet 26:477–488
Chakraborty R, Stivers DN (1996) Paternity exclusion by DNA markers: effects of paternal mutations. J Forensic Sci 41:671–677
Garber RA, Morris JW (1983) General equations for the average power of exclusion for genetic systems of n codominant alleles in one-parent and no-parent cases of disputed parentage. In: Walker RH (ed) Inclusion probabilities in parentage testing. American Association of Blood Banks. Arlington, VA, pp 277–280
Gunn PR, Trueman K, Stapleton P, Klarkowski DB (1997) DNA analysis in disputed parentage: the occurrence of two apparently false exclusions of paternity, both at short tandem repeat (STR) loci, in the one child. Electrophoresis 18:1650–1652
Jamieson A, Taylor SC (1997) Comparisons of three probability formulae for parentage exclusion. Anim Genet 28: 397–400
Kaye DH (1990) DNA paternity probabilities. Fam Law Quart 24:280–303
Lee CL, Lebeck L, Pothiawala M (1980) Exclusion of paternity without testing the mother. Am J Clin Pathol 74:809–812
Li CC, Sacks L (1954) The derivation of joint distribution and correlation between relatives by the use of stochastic matrices. Biometrics 10:247–260
Melvin JR, Kateley JR, Oaks MK, Simson LR, Maldonado WE (1988) Paternity testing. In: Saferstein R (ed) Forensic science handbook, vol II. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, pp 273–346
Ohno Y, Sebetan IM, Akaishi S (1982) A simple method for calculating the probability, of excluding paternity with any number of codominant alleles. Forensic Sci Int 19:93–98
Saimon DB, Brocteur J (1978) Probability of paternity exclusion when relatives are involved. Am J Hum Genet 30:65–75
Wenk RE, Traver M, Chiafari FA (1996) Determination of sibship in any two persons. Transfusion 36:259–262
Wiener ML, Lederer M, Polayes SH (1930) Studies in isohemagglutination IV: on the chances of proving non-paternity; with special reference to blood groups. J Immunol 19:259–282
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
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Fung, W.K., Chung, Yk. & Wong, Dm. Power of exclusion revisited: probability of excluding relatives of the true father from paternity. Int J Legal Med 116, 64–67 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004140100210
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004140100210