Forensic applications.

The introduction of DNA based identity testing has revolutionized the field of forensic analysis of biological materials. Most of the publications during the past year expand earlier studies that began more than seven years ago, on the properties of DNA recovered from different types of evidential materials; these studies examine the suitability of these samples for identity testing, the effect of different environmental insults the population genetics of loci used for identity testing, and the methods used for statistical analysis of the DNA patterns.