Probabilistic genotyping

{{short description|Statistical method for DNA profiling}}

Probabilistic genotyping is the use of statistical methods and mathematical algorithms in DNA Profiling. It may be used instead of manual methods in difficult situations, such as when a DNA sample is very small or includes a mixture of multiple individuals' DNA.{{Cite journal |last=Kwong |first=Katherine |date=2017 |title=The Algorithm Says You Did It: The Use of Black Box Algorithms to Analyze Complex DNA Evidence |url=https://jolt.law.harvard.edu/assets/articlePDFs/v31/31HarvJLTech275.pdf |journal=Harvard Journal of Law & Technology |pages=279–281}} Probabilistic genotyping, unlike traditional methods, avoids the need for subjective judgment. The reliability of the method has been questioned by some defense lawyers because the source code of some probabilistic genotyping programs is proprietary.{{Cite web |url=http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/code_of_science_defense_lawyers_want_to_peek_behind_the_curtain_of_probabil/P1 |title=Defense lawyers want to peek behind the curtain of probabilistic genotyping |date=December 2017 |website=ABA Journal |access-date=March 12, 2019}}