Mathematics of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)

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The Mathematics Behind the Biochemistry of DNA

Problems concerning the understanding of scientific evidence in forensic science are investigated with reference to measures of improbability related with the presentation of such evidence in an adversarial perspective . The investigation includes the use of probabilistic arguments associated with expert scientific testimony in the courts . In Scotland , forensic medicine students were given problems presented in court in for them to learn about uncertainties . These problems were supported by scientific evidences for

(Taroni and Aiken 169

How is mathematics a useful tool in understanding such problems ? As mentioned above , probability is being used to interpret the data which derived from the scientific analysis , usually done in the laboratory with forensic experts or chemists , with the application of established chemical reactions and powerful methods of chemistry and biotechnology The theories of probability are proven by the laws of mathematics

The likelihood of a specific occasion to happen is probability is the chance for an event to happen . It can be written in fractions or as decimals between 0 (an impossible event ) and 1 (a sure event . Decimals can be further written as percentages . The probability can be calculated as The probability of getting heads in one toss is :

(heads 1 (1 1 1 ?2

Craven mentioned in his Primer on Probability for Discrete Variables that the Bayes theorem is an effective tool in estimating the likelihood of events . In theories of statistics , some conditions are hard to estimate for its likelihood , but the Bayes theorem solves it . An example of events which are hard to estimate for its probability is the case of the DNA matching . This will only give the importance of the Bayes theorem to somehow appreciate the application of mathematics in the d of statistics

The DNA fingerprint is the identity of a human being , in which he can be differentiated from other humans . It is commonly encountered on movies concerning the real identity of an individual , to whom must he really belong , who is the real mother of this individual , whatsoever . The last resort to finally end the arguments is the DNA matching . DNA matching has been extensively done since DNA sequencing and matching was discovered

Let us have a comparison of the evidence and a reference or the sample which is of the known source , such as a hair sample from a suspect Considering a rape case , we could get seminal fluid from the rape victim or from the crime scene to compare with the DNA present in the blood of the suspect or from the fresh semen obtainable from the suspect if he would allow it

If the two samples produce an indistinguishable DNA pro , then it is strongly evidenced that the unknown and the known sample came from a common source , and the contributor of the unknown sample is the suspect

Are we confident of the results ? From the Forensic Mathematics of DNA Matching by...