Considerations on expanding criminal offender DNA databases with Y-STR profiles

Area of Science:

• Forensic Genetics
• Molecular Biology
• Criminal Justice

Background:

• Current autosomal short tandem repeat (STR) DNA databases have limitations in solving complex criminal cases.
• Mixed male-female samples, common in sexual assault cases, pose challenges for traditional DNA profiling.
• Y-chromosomal STR (Y-STR) profiling offers a complementary approach to autosomal STR analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the benefits of expanding national criminal offender DNA databases (NCODDs) with Y-STR profiles.
• To analyze the legal implications and human rights considerations of incorporating Y-STR data.
• To stimulate discussion on the practical implementation and ethical aspects of Y-STR database expansion.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing NCODDs utilizing autosomal STRs.
• Analysis of Y-STR profiling capabilities, including rapidly mutating Y-STRs (RM Y-STRs) for enhanced discrimination.
• Legal assessment based on the European Convention on Human Rights and relevant case law.

Main Results:

• Y-STR profiles enhance database matching in cases with mixed or limited autosomal DNA, particularly for sexual assaults.
• RM Y-STRs improve the ability to differentiate between paternally related males.
• Legal analysis suggests Y-STR database use for reidentifying convicted sex offenders aligns with human rights law, but broader applications for familial searching may not.

Conclusions:

• Expanding NCODDs with Y-STR profiles presents significant forensic advantages for law enforcement.
• Careful consideration of genetic privacy and human rights is crucial, especially for generalized familial searching.
• A balanced approach is needed to harness the benefits of Y-STR technology while mitigating potential risks.