Forensic Fridays to Address Reading Forensic DNA Reports

The Forensic Friday series continues with a session that will focus on the complicated yet varied statistical methodologies involved in DNA analysis and what it means to find a DNA “match.”

What’s in a Match? How to Read a Forensic DNA Report will be held on Friday, Oct. 16, from 1 to 4:30 p.m. in the Africa Room.

Hosted by the Wecht Institute of Forensic Science and Law, presenters at this session will include:

• Sara Bitner, serologist, Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office
• Dr. Mark Perlin, chief executive officer and chief scientific officer, Cybergenetics
• Arthur Young, forensic biology specialist, Guardian Forensic Sciences, Philadelphia.

In addition, the session will include What’s in a DNA ‘Match?’ Toward a Consensus Definition, a panel discussion featuring the presenters and moderated by Lyndsie Ferrara, an instructor of the Forensic Science and Law Program.

“Although long known as the ‘gold standard’ of forensic identification, DNA analysis is actually far more complicated than it seems,” said Program Administrator Ben Wecht. “When experts speak of finding a ‘match,’ what exactly does that mean? Is the likelihood a billion to one? A million to one? How do we know? And to what extent does it really matter? These will be among the critical, in some cases life-or-death questions that our panel of DNA experts will be addressing.”

The seminar, which has been approved for three hours of substantive Continuing Legal Education credit (CLE), will be offered both onsite and online for relevant professionals.

The Forensic Fridays series regularly offers CLE and other professional education opportunities in shorter courses that are convenient for busy professionals.

For more information, including costs, visit the website, email or call 412.396.1330.