Big data in forensic genetics

Abstract

The potential and difficulties of the application of genome wide data in forensics are analyzed. We argue that, besides statistical, computational, ethical, economic and technical validation problems, the state of the art of population genetics theory is insufficient to deal with the forensic use of this type of data. In order to keep the current standards of quantifying and reporting genetic evidence, namely in kinship analyses and identification, substantial improvement in the theoretical framework should be reached, since to obtain genome-wide results is to provide the experts with data that they cannot quantify the corresponding evidentiary value. Therefore, while a satisfactory, generalized theoretical and biostatistical modelling is not achieved, it may well be wiser to improve the already established approaches to a limited, pre-defined number of validated genetic markers, amenable to a consensual handling and reporting. Whole genome population analyses will prove extremely useful in selecting the best suited and most efficient of those markers.

Keywords: Forensics; Genome-wide data; Likelihood ratio; Population genetics theory; Statistical evidence.