Lil Wayne New York Gun Case

NEW YORK - Lil Wayne has a date in a Manhattan courtroom, but DNA science will take center stage.

A hearing on a DNA profiling technique used in the rapper's 2007 gun-possession case was due to start Wednesday. It concerns a process used for identifying people from tiny amounts of DNA — including some that prosecutors say ties the Grammy Award-winner to a gun found on his tour bus after a concert.

The 27-year-old has pleaded not guilty. He faces at least 3½ years in prison if convicted.

The hearing aims to establish whether what's known as low copy number DNA profiling has general scientific acceptance.

Lil Wayne, born Dwayne Carter, won last year's best rap solo performance Grammy for "A Milli." His albums include "Tha Carter," ''Tha Carter II" and "Tha Carter III."