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The product rule is used to estimate the chance of finding a given STR profile within a population. This is done by multiplying the frequency of each of the genotypes (combination of alleles) found at all loci in the STR profile.
In the case of Y-chromosome STRs and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) the product rule can not be used. For more information on Y-STRs and mtDNA, refer to Module 8.
The product rule requires using formulas defined by "Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium," which predicts the probability of observing a particular homozygote (same allele inherited from each parent) profile or a heterozygote (different allele inherited from each parent) profile in a population.
Additional Online Courses
- What Every First Responding Officer Should Know About DNA Evidence
- Collecting DNA Evidence at Property Crime Scenes
- DNA – A Prosecutor’s Practice Notebook
- Crime Scene and DNA Basics
- Laboratory Safety Programs
- DNA Amplification
- Population Genetics and Statistics
- Non-STR DNA Markers: SNPs, Y-STRs, LCN and mtDNA
- Firearms Examiner Training
- Forensic DNA Education for Law Enforcement Decisionmakers
- What Every Investigator and Evidence Technician Should Know About DNA Evidence
- Principles of Forensic DNA for Officers of the Court
- Law 101: Legal Guide for the Forensic Expert
- Laboratory Orientation and Testing of Body Fluids and Tissues
- DNA Extraction and Quantitation
- STR Data Analysis and Interpretation
- Communication Skills, Report Writing, and Courtroom Testimony
- Español for Law Enforcement
- Amplified DNA Product Separation for Forensic Analysts