Biomaterial Database

An expository review of two methods of calculating the paternity probability. 1988

C C Li, and A Chakravarti

Department of Biostatistics, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, PA 15261.

There are two methods for calculating the posttests probability of paternity, viz., the nonexclusion probability method (E method) and the paternity index method (lambda method). This report reviews these two methods and explains the reasons behind them, in the hope that it might alleviate the current controversy between the advocates of these two methods. The emphasis throughout the paper is on exposition, using simple examples to illustrate certain principles or properties. A discussion follows the presentation of the two methods. The calculation of the paternity index is based on the genotype (or phenotype) of the accused man; and the value of the paternity index remains the same whether the accusation itself is true or false.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008962	Models, Theoretical	Theoretical representations that simulate the behavior or activity of systems, processes, or phenomena. They include the use of mathematical equations, computers, and other electronic equipment.	Experimental Model,Experimental Models,Mathematical Model,Model, Experimental,Models (Theoretical),Models, Experimental,Models, Theoretic,Theoretical Study,Mathematical Models,Model (Theoretical),Model, Mathematical,Model, Theoretical,Models, Mathematical,Studies, Theoretical,Study, Theoretical,Theoretical Model,Theoretical Models,Theoretical Studies
D010334	Paternity	Establishing the father relationship of a man and a child.	Paternities
D011336	Probability	The study of chance processes or the relative frequency characterizing a chance process.	Probabilities
D005260	Female		Females
D006580	Genetic Carrier Screening	Identification of individuals who are heterozygous at a GENETIC LOCUS for a recessive PHENOTYPE.	Carriers, Genetic, Detection,Genetic Carriers, Detection,Heterozygote Detection,Carrier Detection, Genetic,Detection, Genetic Carrier,Genetic Carrier Detection,Heterozygote Screening,Carrier Screening, Genetic,Detection, Heterozygote,Screening, Genetic Carrier,Screening, Heterozygote,Screenings, Genetic Carrier
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001699	Biometry	The use of statistical and mathematical methods to analyze biological observations and phenomena.	Biometric Analysis,Biometrics,Analyses, Biometric,Analysis, Biometric,Biometric Analyses
D012737	Sex Factors	Maleness or femaleness as a constituent element or influence contributing to the production of a result. It may be applicable to the cause or effect of a circumstance. It is used with human or animal concepts but should be differentiated from SEX CHARACTERISTICS, anatomical or physiological manifestations of sex, and from SEX DISTRIBUTION, the number of males and females in given circumstances.	Factor, Sex,Factors, Sex,Sex Factor
D030342	Genetic Diseases, Inborn	Diseases that are caused by genetic mutations present during embryo or fetal development, although they may be observed later in life. The mutations may be inherited from a parent's genome or they may be acquired in utero.	Hereditary Diseases,Genetic Diseases,Genetic Disorders,Hereditary Disease,Inborn Genetic Diseases,Single-Gene Defects,Defect, Single-Gene,Defects, Single-Gene,Disease, Genetic,Disease, Hereditary,Disease, Inborn Genetic,Diseases, Genetic,Diseases, Hereditary,Diseases, Inborn Genetic,Disorder, Genetic,Disorders, Genetic,Genetic Disease,Genetic Disease, Inborn,Genetic Disorder,Inborn Genetic Disease,Single Gene Defects,Single-Gene Defect