All up-to-date aspects of DNA technology are discussed partly in review lectures but mostly in research articles in this volume: new methods, population statistics for different restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP's), new developments dealing with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), biostatistical aspects of single locus and multi locus profiles as well as examples of practical applications in paternity testing and forensic stain analysis. Contributors to this volume include most internationally acclaimed researchers in this field. Besides facts that are primarily of interest to forensic scientists, immunohaematologists and human geneticists should also find some aspects for their research.