Interpretation and Statistical Evaluation of Multilocus DNA Fingerprints in Paternity and Relationship Testing

Since its discovery by Prof. Sir Alec Jeffreys FRS in 1984, DNA fingerprinting using multilocus VNTR probes (MLPs) has been widely used in the field of human identification (1 ,2 ). Although multilocus probes were used in forensic investigations in the late 1980s (3 ), forensic samples often yield too little undegraded DNA for the production of a complete DNA fingerprint. Therefore, single-locus VNTR probes (SLPs) are now more widely used in crime-stain analysis. The major application of MLPs is in the analysis of relationships, DNA fingerprinting remaining the most accurate method available for paternity testing (4 ,5 ). Because MLPs detect multiple hypervariable loci simultaneously, the technology is especially powerful in the analysis of complex relationships and cases of incest. DNA fingerprinting is also widely used in establishing zygosity in twins and in relationship-testing in animals (6 ,7 ).