Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Please explain to the Court

In simple paternity cases DNA profiles from the child, mother & putative father are used. But often the putative father is unavailable & DNA from relatives is used. Features such as mutation, silent alleles, laboratory & handling errors, introduce additional complications. Bayesian networks can be a solution - Philip Dawid, University of Cambridge


When I read that my first reaction was Interesting. My second was that I am very glad not to be put into a position of having to explain, particularly in a court of law

Fortunately Professor Dawid is an experienced expert witness.

For some that would sound like a double disability, implying sarcasm on my part. Anything but