Patent ID: 7664719

Claim:
A method of analyzing DNA electrophoresis data, the method for use in a DNA profile peak calling expert system comprising computer readable media of a computer system including an input device, memory, a processor and an output device, the computer system receiving input from at least a first source and a second source via said input device, comprising: (a) importing DNA electrophoresis data of specimen DNA obtained by a genetic analyzer for analysis by said processor; (b) analyzing the DNA electrophoresis data, wherein the expert system makes at least one first decision whether a peak represented as two-dimensional graphical data corresponds to a DNA allele, said first decision characterizing the DNA electrophoresis data based on a rule base comprising rules for application to objects comprising profile, peak and locus of said DNA electrophoresis data stored in said memory having associated modifiable analysis parameters including a stutter peak parameter of a stutter peak rule; (c) displaying the at least one first decision via said output device, wherein the at least one first decision whether a given peak corresponds to a DNA allele is modifiable by a first input from the first source comprising one of agreement and disagreement with the first decision, modification of a modifiable analysis parameter, and definition of a profile as a mixture; (d) in response to the first input from the first source, either re-applying the rule base to make at least one second decision, wherein the at least one second decision is different from the at least one first decision, or agreeing with the at least one first decision; (e) displaying the at least one first decision or the at least one second decision via said output device, wherein the at least one first or second decision is modifiable in response to a first input from the second source comprising one of a selection of one of a plurality of observations including acceptance of an item and rejection of an item and of a modification of a decision made by the expert system; and (f) in response to the first input from the second source, either re-applying the rule base to make at least one third decision, wherein the third decision is different from the second decision, or agreeing with one of the first or second decisions whereby said first or second decision results in a called DNA allele.