Methods for establishing the genotype of a DNA sample, and methods for
investigating the potential sources of a DNA sample arising from a
plurality of source, are provided, the methods being based on a method
including: analysing the sample to produce a data profile for the sample
for a locus; proposing a suggested genotype; generating a first stage
profile for the locus for the suggested genotype; adjusting the first
stage profile to account for one or more factors to give a simulation
profile; and comparing the data profile and the simulation profile to
provide an indication of the likelihood of the data profile given the
suggested genotype. The methods in effect make adjustments to take the
first stage profile, potentially through one or more intervening
profiles, to the simulation profile, the simulation profile being an
anticipation of the data profile which would be expected to occur for
that suggested genotype in practice. The methods potentially include
adjustments for one or more of preferential amplification and/or stutter
and/or allele drop out and/or allele drop in and/or stochastic components
and/or noise and/or preferential degradation and/or the relative
contributions from the sources.