Evaluate Population-Specific Sibship During Kinship Analysis

This webinar originally occurred in 2018
Duration: 1 hour

Overview
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This webinar will provide an overview of what kinship analysis programs are currently in use and will provide an in-depth analysis of how population-based allele frequency databases impact sibship determination.

Kinship analysis of short tandem repeat (STR) profiles is often used in cases of parentage testing. Kinship analysis programs calculate the likelihood ratios of paternity, maternity, and sibship using allele frequency databases. The extent of variation between numerical precision within these programs is notable, given small variances in value may yield different conclusions and ramifications. These variances are especially impactful when determining a sibship between full and/or half siblings.

Population-specific allele frequency databases bring additional variation to statistical calculations of kinship. A population-specific allele frequency database is intended to account for the genetic similarities and differences found within the population. The application of such allele frequency databases becomes important for kinship analysis due to the genetic similarities of individuals within a biological family.

Detailed Learning Objectives

1. Identify the current methods and programs being used for relationship testing.
2. Describe how scientists currently measure confidence of sibship and why this is an issue worth considering.
3. List how population-based allele frequency databases impact the likelihood ratios obtained from full siblings and from half siblings.

Presenter

• Riya Thekdi | Graduate Student at the George Washington University