Getting Started with Frequencies in MaSTR
In MaSTR, a frequency is a publication that details the population frequencies for alleles in specific markers. MaSTR uses the allele frequencies to calculate the Likelihood Ratio (LR) for a sample, where the LR is the likelihood that the DNA that is analyzed is the DNA of the unknown subject versus the DNA of a random individual from the general population.
The Frequency page lists the frequencies that have been added or uploaded to the MaSTR database in reverse chronological order and that can be used in a DNA analysis. Three of these frequencies are pre-loaded: Budowle 2001, Moretti et al 2016, and Hill_et_all 2013. All three publications detail frequencies for American populations.
The following information is displayed for a frequency on the Frequency page:
• The frequency name. The name is a hyperlink to the Frequency Information page, which details frequency-specific information and also provides options for working with the frequency.
• The frequency creation date. The date that the frequency was added/uploaded to the MaSTR database. For the three pre-loaded frequencies, this is the date that MaSTR was installed on the server.
• The frequency owner. The username for the user who added/uploaded the frequency to the MaSTR database. For the three pre-loaded frequencies, this is the username for the default Admin user who installed MaSTR on the server.
• The Status indicator. By default, any frequency that is added/uploaded to the MaSTR database is added/uploaded with an “Active” status, which is indicated by a white checkmark with a blue background in the Active column. A frequency with an Active status can be used in a DNA analysis. If a frequency does not have an Active status, then the Status indicator is a blank checkbox and the frequency cannot be used in a DNA analysis.
You can open a frequency in MaSTR simply to view its information, or after viewing the information, you have three options for working with a frequency. You can change the frequency status, edit a frequency, or delete a frequency. You can also use the Upload function to add a new frequency to the MaSTR database See: