17-Mar-2017

AAFS talk on manipulating DNA evidence

Fully Bayesian computer analysis works automatically, objectively mining data for information. But incomplete models require human involvement, forcing people to pick data and choose parameters. This software subjectivity can lead to bias or error.

On February 17th at the AAFS meeting in New Orleans, Legal Aid lawyer Clinton Hughes and Cybergenetics Mark Perlin co-presented a talk "On the threshold of injustice: manipulating DNA evidence." After Mr. Hughes spoke about the New York v. Nick Hillary acquittal, Dr. Perlin described how software choices affect DNA match statistics. An expanded version of Dr. Perlin's talk is now online.