Application of SNP Probe Capture Enrichment and Massively Parallel Sequencing in the Analysis of Degraded and Mixed Samples
Samples that are highly degraded and mixed in nature are commonly found in mass disaster events, missing persons, and forensic casework and often pose issues with conventional short tandem repeat (STR) typing by capillary electrophoresis (CE). DNA fragment sizes less than 150 bp present issues as two intact primer binding sites may not be present […]
Kennedy Assassination Bullets Preserved in Digital Form
In the palm of his hand, Thomas Brian Renegar held two small metal objects that had changed the course of history. Twisted pieces of copper and lead, they were fragments of the bullet that ended the life of President John F. Kennedy on Nov. 22, 1963. Article written and shared with permission by NIST […]
15 Headlines Making News in Forensic Science During 2019
Genetic genealogy saw numerous successes and faced challenges. Rapid DNA proved to be invaluable in mass casualty situations. Massively parallel sequencing led to a conviction for the first time, and much more. Throughout 2019, forensic science has been top of mind in the media. Let’s take a look back on some of the biggest headlines […]
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! Nearly 40 Years After College Student’s Stabbing Death, Genetic Records Lead […]
Recapping ISHI 30 with our Student Ambassadors
The 30th International Symposium on Human Identification Keynote Speaker, Paul Holes, related the chilling story of the case that dogged him for over 20 years—the notorious Golden State Killer, who committed over 100 burglaries, more than 50 rapes and at least 13 murders from 1974 to 1986. 2019 also saw continued interest in the power […]
Top 10 Blog Posts of 2019
As 2019 winds down, let’s celebrate all that’s happened in the world of ISHI this year! A record number of attendees converged on Palm Springs, California for the 30th annual International Symposium on Human Identification where we discussed new technologies, genetic genealogy, mixture interpretation, and testifying as an expert witness. We also heard Paul Holes […]
Identifying the Golden State Killer: An Interview with Paul Holes and Barbara Rae-Venter
In April of 2018, news broke that the elusive Golden State Killer had been identified through a new technique called genetic genealogy (or investigative genealogy). In just 4 ½ months, Paul Holes and his team (including genealogist Barbara Rae-Venter) put a name to the man who had terrorized California for years. In this interview, […]
Assessing Crude Extracts from Reference Samples in Massively Parallel Sequencing Workflows
Forensic science tends to be a slow-moving field, but every so often new technology helps push forensic testing forward. Massively parallel sequencing (MPS) is one such technology with substantial potential benefit for forensic DNA testing. Through a technology transfer partnership, Ohio BCI and the Battelle Memorial Institute (Columbus, Ohio) have implemented MPS-based mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) […]
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! How Advancements in DNA Technology can Help Save the Tigers (The […]
