Individual Comparison
Definition
An individual comparison assesses whether samples may share one organism as their source using suitable observations and methods. It requires information capable of addressing individual variation rather than relying only on a species identification or broadly shared appearance.
- Context
- Animal DNA evidence
For example, assessing whether two samples came from one animal requires suitable individual-level information rather than a species name alone.
An animal-source association does not by itself establish which human acted, how transfer occurred or when the material was deposited.
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- Population Assignment
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- Taxonomic Assignment
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Explained in
- Wildlife Crime and Biological EvidenceAssessment of whether samples may share one organism as their source.