Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Understanding the factors that may impact the transfer, persistence, prevalence and recovery of DNA DNA-TPPR , and the availability of data to assign probabilities to DNA quantities and profile types being obtained given particular scenarios and circumstances, is paramount when performing, and giving guidance on, evaluations of DNA findings given activity level propositions activity level evaluations.
In late and early , three major reviews were published on aspects of DNA-TPPR, with each advocating the need for further research and other actions to support the conduct of DNA-related activity level evaluations.
Here, we look at how challenges are being met, primarily by providing a synopsis of DNA-TPPR-related articles published since the conduct of these reviews and briefly exploring some of the actions taken by industry stakeholders towards addressing identified gaps. Much has been carried out in recent years, and efforts continue, to meet the challenges to continually improve the capacity of forensic experts to provide the guidance sought by the judiciary with respect to the transfer of DNA.
Awareness and understanding of the transfer, persistence, prevalence and recovery of DNA DNA-TPPR , as well as access to relevant data on these issues to support probability assignments, have become increasingly relevant to forensic scientists to assist with investigations of alleged criminal activities and to provide guidance to the triers of fact [ 1 , 2 ]. The desire to utilise DNA profiling methodologies is due to the high discrimination power of the profiles they are able to generate, and thus, their ability to exculpate or inculpate an individual [ 3 , 4 , 5 ].
Further, the sensitivity of these methods allows profiles to be generated from minute quantities of biological material [ 6 , 7 , 8 ]. Knowing that profiles can be readily collected from objects that have been touched by hands [ 9 , 10 ] or worn [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ] significantly broadened the scope of objects and surfaces that are targeted for DNA sampling to assist investigations [ 15 ].
