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 […]
PhDs: From Distressing to De-Stressing
When I searched for the origin of the word “stress”, I found that it is partially taken from an old French word “estresse”, that is narrowness and oppression. If I add the word “PhD” along with “stress”, hundreds if not thousands of articles, blogs and surveys pop-up discussing the effect of stress on PhD students. […]
Beyond Genetic Genealogy: Building Family Trees to Investigate Crime
“Class! Class!” Diahan Southard raises her voice and claps twice, cutting through the buzz of conversation that fills the room. Dutifully, her class responds. “Yes! Yes!” It’s a technique that Southard has learned from her experience with raising three children and over 20 years of teaching. Her audience is broken up into small […]
Crime Scene Culture: How Inadvertent Collection of Bacteria Affects DNA Profiling Success
The role of a forensic scientist is challenging. Most of us get into this field because of our desire to have a positive impact, make the world safer, and fight crime through science. We utilize scientific data to help law enforcement identify criminals, exonerate the innocent, and assist in helping to bring closure to victims […]
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! Early DNA Lineages Shed Light on the Diverse Origins of the […]
No Nuclear DNA in Rootless Hair: Myth or Fact?
Hair shafts, particularly rootless ones (telogen hair), are common exhibits found in crime scenes. They can be deposited either normally due to shedding or by force due to hair plucking. Based on the American Academy of Dermatology, the normal rate of shed hair per day is 50 to100 strands [1]. However due to the structure […]
Fall Edition of The ISHI Report Now Live
The Fall edition of The ISHI Report is now live! We hope that many of you were able to participate in the 30th International Symposium on Human Identification that took place in Palm Springs. This issue includes features and interviews with several speakers and attendees from the just completed conference. A very […]
