Anthropology 2235A/B Lecture : Lecture 21 – Disadvantages of mtDNA
22 Jun 2012
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The high copy number and the sensitivity of pcr makes it more susceptible to contamination (must have clean lab facility for mtdna analysis (=very costly to construct lab and to pay for case (~-2000 american) Can"t discriminate maternal relatives, in small areas with high degree of endogamy this could be problematic. Low probative value (usually 1/100 to 1/1000) depending on size of database. New to courts (voir dire in canada 1999) = more acrimony and less acceptance. Possibility of heteroplasmy (two profiles at a locus in one individual) Pcr selectivity: main concern in the in r. v. murrin voir dire trial. In order to understand how a lab is structured to control for contamination the whole process requires review.
