Abstract: Methods for establishing the genotype of a DNA sample, and methods for investigating the potential sources of a DNA sample arising from a plurality of source, are provided, the methods being based on a method including: analysing the sample to produce a data profile for the sample for a locus; proposing a suggested genotype; generating a first stage profile for the locus for the suggested genotype; adjusting the first stage profile to account for one or more factors to give a simulation profile; and comparing the data profile and the simulation profile to provide an indication of the likelihood of the data profile given the suggested genotype. The methods in effect make adjustments to take the first stage profile, potentially through one or more intervening profiles, to the simulation profile, the simulation profile being an anticipation of the data profile which would be expected to occur for that suggested genotype in practice.

Abstract: Methods of considering DNA based links between two or more situations are provided. Amongst the methods is a method including obtaining a plurality of test results, each test result relating to a situation, each test result including information on the DNA from that situation, the plurality of test results providing a group of test results; selecting a plurality of test results from the group of test results, the plurality of results for the combination of test results; considering a genotype as possibly giving rise to each of the test results of the combination, evaluating the support for that genotype giving rise to all of the test results of the combination; considering the genotype as a DNA based link between the situations for the test results in a combination if the support meets the defined criteria.

Abstract: Methods for establishing the genotype of a DNA sample, and methods for investigating the potential sources of a DNA sample arising from a plurality of source, are provided, the methods being based on a method including: analysing the sample to produce a data profile for the sample for a locus; proposing a suggested genotype; generating a first stage profile for the locus for the suggested genotype; adjusting the first stage profile to account for one or more factors to give a simulation profile; and comparing the data profile and the simulation profile to provide an indication of the likelihood of the data profile given the suggested genotype. The methods in effect make adjustments to take the first stage profile, potentially through one or more intervening profiles, to the simulation profile, the simulation profile being an anticipation of the data profile which would be expected to occur for that suggested genotype in practice.

Abstract: Methods of considering DNA based links between two or more situations are provided. Amongst the methods is a method including obtaining a plurality of test results, each test result relating to a situation, each test result including information on the DNA from that situation, the plurality of test results providing a group of test results; selecting a plurality of test results from the group of test results, the plurality of results for the combination of test results; considering a genotype as possibly giving rise to each of the test results of the combination, evaluating the support for that genotype giving rise to all of the test results of the combination; considering the genotype as a DNA based link between the situations for the test results in a combination if the support meets the defined criteria.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved method for obtaining information about DNA analysis of samples of uncertain origin by establishing the likelihood that they arose in certain manners compared with other possible manners. In this way all of the analysis information is taken into account and likelihood ratios are provided to express the results. The invention is particularly useful in analysing small DNA samples or DNA samples where the contribution from one or more sources is small.