A Mathematical Approach to the Analysis of Multiplex DNA Profiles

Multiplex DNA profiles are used extensively for biomedical and forensic purposes. However, while DNA profile data generation is automated, human analysis of those data is not, and the need for speed combined with accuracy demands a computer-automated approach to sample interpretation and quality assessment. In this paper, we describe an integrated mathematical approach to modeling the data and extracting the relevant information, while rejecting noise and sample artifacts. We conclude with examples showing the effectiveness of our algorithms.