The advent of DNA revolutionised forensic science. Questioning has transitioned to how and when the DNA got there. Most commonly an innocent pathway for DNA transfer is proposed. This is termed Activity Level Evaluation because it considers the activity that deposited the DNA. Since about 2022 this has become a matter of intense heated debate in the US. Some argue that there is no method by which one can infer which of two different transfer routes makes the findings more probable.
John Buckleton FRSNZ is a Principal Scientists at the New Zealand Institute for Public Health and Forensic Science (PHF Science). He has had a long involvement in forensic science in New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. He is one the developers of STRmix, a software package for the interpretation of forensic evidence that contains DNA from more than one person.
Please be aware, this session includes content that some people may find upsetting.
Part of the monthly series of talks brought to us by Royal Society of New Zealand Manawatū Branch.
Everyone welcome.
