Short tandem repeat or STR technology is a forensic analysis that evaluates specific regions (loci) that are found on nuclear DNA. The variable (polymorphic) nature of the STR regions that are analyzed for forensic testing intensifies the discrimination between one DNA profile and another. For example, the likelihood that any two individuals (except identical twins) will have the same 13-loci DNA profile can be as high as 1 in 1 billion or greater.

References

National Commission on the Future of DNA Evidence (July 2002). Using DNA to Solve Cold Cases (pdf). U.S. Department of Justice. Retrieved on 2006-08-08.