Forensic Bioinformatics
Vision
The many hundreds of thousands of criminal and civil court cases each
year are extremely adversarial proceedings. Scientific evidence is
one of the few elements of a trial that is expected to be completely
objective and give a clear insight into the truth. Unfortunately,
there is a great deal of pressure on scientific experts and testing
laboratories to become biased and to become advocates themselves -
both for the prosecution and for the defense. There is a great need
for truly objective review and presentation of scientific evidence.
It is the purpose of Forensic Bioinformatic Services, Inc. to provide
efficient, timely, accurate and comprehensive reviews so that experts
and attorneys are better able to make the truth known.
Mission
Forensic Bioinformatics, Inc. has just two missions:
to review the DNA evidence in as many cases as is possible with
the intent of finding and drawing attention to recurring problems
so that the testing continues to become better and more reliable, and
to provide services in a fashion that allows us to provide a
high-quality service both now and in the future.
Our reviews and the other services we provide will always be critical and
hold testing laboratories to high standards. However, we will not take
personal interest in the outcome of a case or modify our work product
to better suit one side or another for any case in which our services
are retained.
Guiding Principles
We are deeply committed to the principle of making known the truth
about scientific evidence: how it is generated, what it means and the way
that it is interpreted. More information is always better than less.
It will always be a priority Forensic Bioinformatics, Inc. to
make our reviews as understandable and clear as is possible. In other
words, we will "cast light into the black box of forensic analyses."
GenophilerTM
GenophilerTM is an automated software tool for DNA evidence review.
GenophilerTM objectively analyzes the raw electronic data using the same
software as the testing lab, but at a lower RFU threshold to provide as much
information as possible (including the potential for minor contributors that may be
hidden by the testing lab's threshold and/or analyst interference).
The analysis results are presented in an easy-to-use webpage
that can be viewed on any computer with a web browser. Instead of looking through
hundreds and hundreds of printouts, all electropherograms and sample analysis
outputs are accessible through a single page. In addition, a table is provided,
containing the profiles of every sample tested. The alleles are color-coded to
provide easy matching with the victim and/or defendant. A comprehensive report is also
included that lists every sample tested along with a detailed list of any issues
found with the testing, handling, and/or condition of the sample. The report identifies
issues like pull-up, peak height imbalance, degradation, and other potential
problems that can be very difficult and time-consuming to perform by hand.
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