EVALUATION OF 13 SHORT TANDEM REPEAT LOCI FOR USE IN PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION APPLICATIONS

Personal identification by using DNA typing methodologies has been an issue in the popular and scientific press for several years. We presen t a PCR-based DNA-typing method using 13 unlinked short tandem repeat (STR) loci. Validation of the loci and methodology has been performed to meet standards set by the forensic community and the accrediting or ganization for parentage testing. Extensive statistical analysis has a ddressed the issues surrounding the presentation of ''match'' statisti cs. We have found STR loci to provide a rapid, sensitive, and reliable method of DNA typing for parentage testing, forensic identification, and medical diagnostics. Valid statistical analysis is generally simpl er than similar analysis of RFLP-VNTR results and provides powerful st atistical evidence of the low frequency of random multilocus genotype matching.