"We provide non-experts a correct understanding of the forensic genetic reports for a wide range of problems, including both human and non-human analyses. The book adopts a problem/example-based approach, the genetics and statistical background being presented in as appendices to each chapter. These examples will cover the various types of legal issues and corresponding genetic approaches to their solution, from the 'classical' ones, using human DNA, as paternity cases, to those using non-human material sources of evidence, from criminalistics (silent witnesses) to food mislabeling and wildlife protection. A separate section is dedicated to the recent developments and potential applications and the legal and ethical problems involved"--
This book aims to enable non-experts in Genetics to understand the contribution of this science to resolve civil or criminal litigations, analysing evidence of human and non-human origins.
This book aims to enable non-experts in Genetics to understand the contribution of this science to resolve civil or criminal litigations, analysing evidence of human and non-human origins. The main difficulties in the comprehension and misuse of the results of Forensic Genetics reside in the lack of effective communication between geneticists and the users of the produced information (as lawyers and judges) and do not arise primarily from the lack of knowledge of genetics. Therefore, instead of a classical handbook we use a question-and-answer approach, which meets this interfacial essence. Questions that can be addressed by genetic expertise are typified and for each of them we provide the possible expert report, presenting the essential biological and statistical genetics background in the form of boxes/appendices, along with exemplary cases. Legal, ethical, and theoretical limitations of Forensic Genetics are discussed, formulating questions that cannot, or should not, be addressed by this applied science.
IntroductionDefinitions and Framework. Questions & Answers. Questions
without Answers & Answers without Questions. Boxes. Annexes.
Antonio Amorim is Emeritus Professor at the Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Portugal. His research on population genetics and evolution and forensic application has resulted in over 500 indexed publications, with over 11,000 citations. He is honorary member of the International Society of Forensic Genetics and has served in many boards of scientific societies and journals.
Nįdia Pinto is Associate Researcher at the Institute for Research & Innovation in Health of the University of Porto. She holds a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics, and her research has been focused on the development of mathematical models and software for a wide range of research problems in the field of population genetics, specifically forensic genetics. She has authored more than 60 publications in international peer-reviewed journals, book chapters, and proceedings.
