Studying Public Preferences and Policy Options for Investigative Genetic Genealogy
Since the arrest of the Golden State Killer in April 2018, investigative genetic genealogy (IGG) has helped close hundreds of cases in the United States. But there are persistent concerns that this technique violates the privacy interests of participants in genetic genealogy databases and their families. Past studies have demonstrated that individuals are concerned about […]
Handwriting Examiners in the Digital Age
Today’s blog is written by guest blogger, Rich Press. Reposted from the NIST blog with permission. People are writing more than ever with their keyboards and phones, but handwritten notes have become rare. Even signatures are going out of style. Most credit card purchases no longer require them, and if they do, you can usually […]
Evaluation of Collection Methods for Direct PCR Amplification of Touch DNA Samples
Direct polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification, a sample processing method in which an evidence swab or substrate punch is added directly to an amplification reaction without prior extraction or quantification, has been identified as a method that may improve DNA profiles from low-yield touch DNA evidence. Small amounts of DNA left behind when an individual […]
This Week in Forensic Science
No one has hours to scour the papers to keep up with the latest news, so we’ve curated the top news stories in the field of Forensic Science for this week. Here’s what you need to know to get out the door! Woman on a Mission to Fund DNA Cases Until All Unidentified […]
Using the ForenSeq Kintelligence Workflow with Difficult Samples for Forensic Genetic Genealogy
Using next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies for forensic investigations has gained interest over the past few years due to the possibility of obtaining more information from a DNA sample left at the crime scene, especially in the presence of mixed contributors. The development of new workflows to be used with the MiSeq® FGx Sequencing System opens […]
The Missing Piece Episode 6: Mary Catherine Edwards
In January 1995, the parents of Mary Catherine Edwards, a “well-loved” Beaumont, Texas school teacher, went to her home to check on her. Mary lived alone, had not responded to calls and her parents were concerned. Upon arrival, they found she had been drowned in her bathroom. Beaumont detectives later determined that the […]
This Week in Forensic Science
No one has hours to scour the papers to keep up with the latest news, so we’ve curated the top news stories in the field of Forensic Science for this week. Here’s what you need to know to get out the door! When Evidence Goes Cold: Adding Automated Freezers to Your Hands-Free Workflow (Forensic […]
How the ICMP is Using the Latest DNA Technology to Identify Missing Persons
Every year, millions of people around the world go missing as a result of conflict, human rights abuses, disasters, organized crime, irregular migration, and other causes. As the only international organization that is exclusively tasked to address this issue, the International Commission for Missing Persons (ICMP) is actively engaged in developing institutions and civil society […]
Developmental Validation of the Illumina Infinium Assay using the Global Screening Array (GSA) on the iScan System for use in Forensic Laboratories
Signature Science’s Center for Advanced Genomics® (CAG) is working to identify and assess the applicability of emerging technologies and methodologies for use in forensic DNA analyses. To this end, the CAG has validated array-based SNP genotyping using the lllumina® Global Screening Array (GSA) for use on forensic samples. As the demand for forensic genetic genealogy […]
