897
Letters to the Editor Lander ES (1 989a) DNA fingerprinting on trial. Nature 339: 501-505 (1989b) Population genetic considerations in the forensic use of DNA typing. In: DNA technology and forensic science. Banbury rep 32. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, pp 143-156 (1991) Research on DNA typing catching up with courtroom application. Am J Hum Genet 48:819-823 Lewontin RC (1972) The apportionment of human diversity. Evol Biol 6:381-398 Nei M (1987) Molecular evolutionary genetics. Columbia University Press, New York Skibinski DOF, Beardmore JA, Cross TF (1983) Aspects of the population genetics of Mytilus (Mylilidae; Mollusca) in the British isles. Biol J Linnaean Soc 19:137-183 i 1991 by The American Society of Human Genetics. All rights reserved. 0002-9297/91 /4904-0026$02.00
Am. J. Hum. Genet. 49:897, 1991
DNA Fingerprinting To the Editor:
Lander's (1991) editorial on DNA fingerprinting may leave the casual reader with the impression that forensic applications of molecular genetics are inappropriate and ill conceived. Lander also implies that the providers and proponents of these procedures are either naive, uninformed, or Machiavellian. Many knowledgeable, thoughtful investigators would respectfully disagree with these views. The editorial reports that DNA evidence was withdrawn in one case, accepted in part in another, and rejected at an appellate level in Massachusetts. The editorial fails to note that DNA evidence has been admitted in over 450 criminal cases in the United States and that it has survived appellate review in several jurisdictions. DNA fingerprinting has also been widely accepted in European courts. The editorial claims that the two accompanying articles represent "an excellent first step" in scientific studies of DNA typing (Lander 1991, p. 820). This opinion conveniently ignores both the hundreds of technical articles already published on DNA fingerprinting in general and the score or more of technical articles discussing forensic applications of molecular genetics. It also ignores the several articles published prior to initiation of DNA casework by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), as well as the numerous public documents on the subject available at that time.
The FBI is accused in the editorial of having been pressed, prematurely, into DNA casework. A less conspiratorial view is that by early 1989 the FBI had established detailed laboratory protocols, had performed appropriate validation studies, and was more than ready to provide a valuable forensic service desperately needed by the law-enforcement community. Both in his Journal editorial and in earlier editorials, Lander has raised questions about matching criteria and frequency calculations in forensic applications of DNA fingerprinting. Readers may be left with the impression that the providers were extremely dullwitted for not having foreseen these potential difficulties. In fact, a number of workshops, symposia, and public discussions have been held to address these issues. Further, the issues have been debated in numerous trials, with extensive, publicly available documentation. It is interesting to note, without elaborating on details, that research scientists who use these procedures routinely to solve important problems in biology, medicine, and forensics feel that in most cases a "match" is visually self evident and that, whatever the intricacies of the underlying population structure, the chance of a match by coincidence alone is very remote. Constructive criticism is healthy and desirable. Lander provided a valuable service by raising these issues. Further, a balanced view of DNA fingerprinting in criminal cases would recognize that the procedures are technically demanding and that laboratory personnel are fallible. However, with intelligent protocols and rigorous oversight, these potential problems can be and have been largely avoided. Forensic use of DNA fingerprinting is an application of molecular genetics that is of great value to society. It would be tragic if the criminal justice community were denied the use of these investigative tools because of technical minutiae. STEPHEN P. DAIGER Medical Genetics Center Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences The University of Texas Health Science Center Houston
Reference Lander ES (1991) Research on DNA typing catching up with courtroom application. Am J Hum Genet 5:819-823 © 1991 by The American Society of Human Genetics. All rights reserved. 0002-9297/91 /4904-0027$02.00
Letters to the Editor Lander ES (1 989a) DNA fingerprinting on trial. Nature 339: 501-505 (1989b) Population genetic considerations in the forensic use of DNA typing. In: DNA technology and forensic science. Banbury rep 32. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, pp 143-156 (1991) Research on DNA typing catching up with courtroom application. Am J Hum Genet 48:819-823 Lewontin RC (1972) The apportionment of human diversity. Evol Biol 6:381-398 Nei M (1987) Molecular evolutionary genetics. Columbia University Press, New York Skibinski DOF, Beardmore JA, Cross TF (1983) Aspects of the population genetics of Mytilus (Mylilidae; Mollusca) in the British isles. Biol J Linnaean Soc 19:137-183 i 1991 by The American Society of Human Genetics. All rights reserved. 0002-9297/91 /4904-0026$02.00
Am. J. Hum. Genet. 49:897, 1991
DNA Fingerprinting To the Editor:
Lander's (1991) editorial on DNA fingerprinting may leave the casual reader with the impression that forensic applications of molecular genetics are inappropriate and ill conceived. Lander also implies that the providers and proponents of these procedures are either naive, uninformed, or Machiavellian. Many knowledgeable, thoughtful investigators would respectfully disagree with these views. The editorial reports that DNA evidence was withdrawn in one case, accepted in part in another, and rejected at an appellate level in Massachusetts. The editorial fails to note that DNA evidence has been admitted in over 450 criminal cases in the United States and that it has survived appellate review in several jurisdictions. DNA fingerprinting has also been widely accepted in European courts. The editorial claims that the two accompanying articles represent "an excellent first step" in scientific studies of DNA typing (Lander 1991, p. 820). This opinion conveniently ignores both the hundreds of technical articles already published on DNA fingerprinting in general and the score or more of technical articles discussing forensic applications of molecular genetics. It also ignores the several articles published prior to initiation of DNA casework by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), as well as the numerous public documents on the subject available at that time.
The FBI is accused in the editorial of having been pressed, prematurely, into DNA casework. A less conspiratorial view is that by early 1989 the FBI had established detailed laboratory protocols, had performed appropriate validation studies, and was more than ready to provide a valuable forensic service desperately needed by the law-enforcement community. Both in his Journal editorial and in earlier editorials, Lander has raised questions about matching criteria and frequency calculations in forensic applications of DNA fingerprinting. Readers may be left with the impression that the providers were extremely dullwitted for not having foreseen these potential difficulties. In fact, a number of workshops, symposia, and public discussions have been held to address these issues. Further, the issues have been debated in numerous trials, with extensive, publicly available documentation. It is interesting to note, without elaborating on details, that research scientists who use these procedures routinely to solve important problems in biology, medicine, and forensics feel that in most cases a "match" is visually self evident and that, whatever the intricacies of the underlying population structure, the chance of a match by coincidence alone is very remote. Constructive criticism is healthy and desirable. Lander provided a valuable service by raising these issues. Further, a balanced view of DNA fingerprinting in criminal cases would recognize that the procedures are technically demanding and that laboratory personnel are fallible. However, with intelligent protocols and rigorous oversight, these potential problems can be and have been largely avoided. Forensic use of DNA fingerprinting is an application of molecular genetics that is of great value to society. It would be tragic if the criminal justice community were denied the use of these investigative tools because of technical minutiae. STEPHEN P. DAIGER Medical Genetics Center Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences The University of Texas Health Science Center Houston
Reference Lander ES (1991) Research on DNA typing catching up with courtroom application. Am J Hum Genet 5:819-823 © 1991 by The American Society of Human Genetics. All rights reserved. 0002-9297/91 /4904-0027$02.00
