ABSTRACT The advent of DNA profiling in the 1980s has revolutionised forensic science. Forensic DNA profiling is a powerful tool that is used to both exonerate and implicate persons of interest in criminal cases. The technologies used to recover and detect DNA from crime scene stains have evolved over time. Whereas 30 years ago most forensic profiles were generated from visible stains such as blood or semen, nowadays, DNA profiles are often generated from trace amounts of DNA including touched items. The DNA in these profiles is often compromised in quantity and quality, and frequently originates from more than one individual. This improved sensitivity has complicated the interpretation of forensic DNA profiles, and consequently improved methods of profile interpretation have had to be developed. The adoption of these methods has meant that forensic scientists can now interpret mixed DNA profiles previously thought to be too complicated. This article reviews the history of forensic DNA profiling globally, introduces the challenges of DNA profile interpretation, discusses why the community is adopting improved methods, and reflects on what new technology is on the horizon and the new challenges that may present.

中文翻译：

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法医 DNA 谱的解释：历史视角

摘要 1980 年代 DNA 分析的出现彻底改变了法医科学。法医 DNA 分析是一种强大的工具，用于在刑事案件中免除和牵连感兴趣的人。用于从犯罪现场污渍中恢复和检测 DNA 的技术随着时间的推移不断发展。30 年前，大多数法医图谱是从血液或精液等可见污渍中生成的，而如今，DNA 图谱通常是从包括接触过的物品在内的痕量 DNA 中生成的。这些档案中的 DNA 在数量和质量上经常受到影响，并且经常来自多个个体。这种提高的灵敏度使法医 DNA 谱的解释变得复杂，因此必须开发改进的谱解释方法。这些方法的采用意味着法医科学家现在可以解释以前认为过于复杂的混合 DNA 谱。本文回顾了全球法医 DNA 分析的历史，介绍了 DNA 分析的挑战，讨论了社区采用改进方法的原因，并反思即将出现的新技术以及可能出现的新挑战。