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Dr. Bruce Weir (Instructor) weir@stat.ncsu.edu |
Dr. William J Tilstone (Facilitator) wjt@nfstc.org |
Course covers:
Prerequisites:
Learning Outcomes:
Reading List:
"Interpreting DNA Evidence" I.W. Evett and B.S. Weir, 1998 Sinauer, Sunderland MA This is the text for the course, and all topics in the book will be covered (not always in complete detail)
"The Evaluation of Forensic DNA Evidence" National Research Council, 1996 National Academy Press, Washington DC This provides the context for many of the calculations used by US Forensic agencies.
"An Introduction to Forensic DNA Analysis" K. Inman and N. Rudin, 1997 CRC Press, Boca Raton FL This book is not statistical, but gives a good coverage of the basic procedures in DNA testing. "Interpreting Evidence: Evaluating Forensic Science in the Courtroom" B. Roberston and G.A. Vignaux, 1995 Wiley, New York This book is also not very statistical, but it provides a legal context for many of the issues covered in the course.
"Cartoon Guide to Statistics" L. Gonick and W. Smith, 1993 HarperCollins, New York ISBN 0-06-273102-5 (pbk) For those students with no previous formal training in statistics, this book gives an entertaining, and surprisingly rigorous, introduction to the subject.
Friedman, R.D. 1996. Assessing evidence. Michigan Law Review 94:1810- 1838. Friedman writes for lawyers in reviewing three recent books, including that by Roberston and Vignaux. In doing this, he sets out the statistical issues involved in interpreting DNA evidence and sets forth ideas very similar to those we will be covering.
Timeline:
Assignments.
Assignments are based on problems set in the modules. They should be sent to Dr Weir by e-mail, either as straight text or as attached files. If sending as attachments, please send in rtf format.
E-mail must be date stamped no later than 11:59 PM on the due date or the assignment will not be graded. If you have a problem that you believe warrants an extension, such as an Internet Service Provider difficulty, you must make contact before the due date, or send in the assignment by Fax. If seeking an extension and unable to e-mail, call 813 445 0629 and leave a voice message (which the service will assign a time and date to). If faxing, send to 727 341 4497. The fax header will show the time received.
The due dates are:
| Assignment | Due Date |
| Assignment 1 | September 10 |
| Assignment 2 | September 24 |
| Assignment 3 | October 8 |
| Assignment 4 | October 22 |
| Assignment 5 | November 5 |
| Assignment 6 | November 19 |
| Assignment 7 | |
| Final report |
Course Structure:
| Module 1 | Probability Theory (Evett and Weir Chapter 1) |
| Module 2 | Transfer Evidence (Evett and Weir Chapter 2) |
| Module 3 | Statistics (Evett and Weir Chapter 3) |
| Module 4 | Population Genetics (Evett and Weir Chapter 4) |
| Module 5 | Statistical Genetics (Evett and Weir Chapter 5) |
| Module 6 | Parentage Testing (Evett and Weir Chapter 6) |
| Module 7 | Mixtures (Evett and Weir Chapter 7) |
| Module 8 | Presenting Evidence (Evett and Weir Chapters 8 and 9) |
Grading System: | A: | 80-100 |
| B: | 65-79 |
| C: | 50-64 |
| Fail: | below 50 |
