How Statistics Can Foul the Meaning of DNA Evidence

azoblue writes with a piece in New Scientist that might make you rethink the concept of "statistical certainty." As the article puts it, "even when analysts agree that someone could be a match for a piece of DNA evidence, the statistical weight assigned to that match can vary enormously, even by orders of magnitude." Azoblue writes: "For instance, in one man's trial the DNA evidence statistic ranged from 1/95,000 to 1/13, depending on the different weighing methods used by the defense and the prosecution."

Comments

Hmm... Good

[Anonymous Coward]

This sounds like a good reason to stop releasing all of those convicted murderers and rapists who were freed on DNA evidence.