A New Lens on Forensic Genetic Genealogy
Today’s guest blog is written by Marc McDermott, Genealogy Educator / Genetic Genealogist, Genealogy Explained Forensic Genetic Genealogy (FGG) is a term that has gained traction primarily for its instrumental role in leveraging genetic and genealogical methods to aid law enforcement in criminal investigations and the identification of human remains. This process involves the […]
Lowering the Financial Barrier to Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy by Using Blood Cards
Travis chats with Kevin Lord, Director of Lab and Agency Logistics for the DNA Doe Project. He updates Travis on the number of solves that the non-profit has assisted with and shares why an agency may turn to forensic investigative genetic genealogy (FIGG) rather than traditional investigative techniques. Kevin also discusses the technologies and methods […]
Meet ISHI Exhibitors: DNA Doe Project
Travis chats with Cairenn Binder, Director of Education and Development at the DNA Doe Project. She discusses how her role has evolved from volunteer to Director including the first case she worked on. They also talk about the importance of ethics within the forensic investigative genetic genealogy field, and how someone could get started with […]
Under the Microscope 2023 – Nicole Novroski and Amy Smuts
In response to the growing demand for genetic genealogy in cold and violent crime cases, forensic practitioners worldwide are exploring the who, what, when, where, and how to implement forensic genetic genealogy alongside their existing workflows. Providing these services via public laboratories democratizes genetic genealogy in such a way that investigators are not reliant solely […]
Under the Microscope 2023 – Colleen Fitzpatrick
Forensic Genetic Genealogy was recently introduced into court as an investigative lead in the trial of Patrick Leon Nicholas for the 1991 murder of high school senior Sarah Yarborough in Federal Way, WA as a way to address privacy concerns that the defense raised related to the state constitution. This landmark case has brought to the […]
Bringing New Technologies into the Forensic DNA Laboratory
Travis chats with Jennifer Raymond, Research Coordinator at the New South Wales Police Force in Australia, who is responsible for investigating new technologies to determine whether or not to implement them into the laboratory. They discuss the implementation of forensic investigative genetic genealogy into casework in Australia and the public acceptance level of the technique […]
International Considerations for Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy
Travis chats with Nathan Scudder, Coordinator of Research and Innovation for the Australian Federal Police. He is a member of the Australian Forensic Genetic Genealogy Collaboration, working to assess the feasibility of advanced DNA capabilities to solve crimes in Australia. Currently, the majority of Doe and unidentified persons cases using forensic investigative genetic genealogy […]
Investigative Genetic Genealogy is in Urgent Need of Standards and a Certification Exam, and the Investigative Genetic Genealogy Accreditation Board is Working to Provide Them
Today’s blog is written by guest bloggers David Gurney, CeCe Moore, Margaret Press, Carol Rolnick, Bonnie Bossert, and Andrew Hochreiter. Reposted from The ISHI Report with permission. This article is adapted from the manuscript, The Need for Standards and Certification for Investigative Genetic Genealogy, and a Notice of Action, published in Forensic Science International volume […]
Meet ISHI Exhibitors: Parabon NanoLabs
Travis chats with Ellen Greytak, the director of Bioinformatics, of Parabon NanonLabs who describes the identification of “JB55” who had died in the 1800’s. Unlike other burials of that time in the area, his skull and femurs were neatly arranged in the shape of a skull and crossbones, leading archaeologists to conclude that the man […]
