Partial DNA Profile
Definition
A DNA profile in which results were obtained at fewer loci than the full STR panel used. Partial profiles arise from degraded DNA where short DNA fragments remain but longer amplification targets have been lost. They may support probabilistic interpretation but carry greater uncertainty than full profiles.
- Cause
- Degraded DNA
- Result
- Fewer loci than the full STR panel
- Interpretation
- Can support probabilistic genotyping
- Risk
- Greater uncertainty than a full profile
Common questions
Can a partial DNA profile still be used for identification?+
Yes, it can support statistical comparison and probabilistic interpretation, but the fewer loci recovered generally give a weaker match statistic and wider uncertainty than a full profile.
Why do longer STR loci drop out before shorter ones in degraded samples?+
Degradation breaks DNA into progressively shorter fragments, so amplification targets needing longer intact stretches fail first while shorter loci can still be amplified.
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