Opening up forensic DNA phenotyping: the logics of accuracy, commonality and valuing

Abstract

Forensic DNA Phenotyping (FDP) encompasses an emerging set of technologies aimed at predicting physical characteristics of unknown suspects from crime scene DNA traces. In its application FDP involves a variety of settings: research laboratories where FDP tests are developed, forensic laboratories where FDP technologies are used to analyze crime scene DNA traces, and finally the criminal investigation, where results of tests are applied towards finding suspects. In this paper I show that the practices in each of these settings work by a different set of concerns, which I articulate by adopting the notion of “logics” as developed by Annemarie Mol. I ethnographically trace FDP from research lab to investigation, identifying three different logics along the way: those of accuracy, commonality, and valuing respectively. Taken together, I show that these practices do not linearly accumulate but form a heterogeneous assemblage, adding nuance to discussions surrounding FDP.