NIST Upgrades Widely Used Database of Molecular ‘Fingerprints’

When scientists need to identify an unknown compound, they do what a police detective might do. They get fingerprints—in this case, the “molecular fingerprints” of the unknown compound—and run them through a database of fingerprints from known suspects to look for a match. One of the world’s largest and most widely used databases of molecular […]
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! DNA Discovery Reveals Genetic History of Ancient Egyptians (CNN – 6/23/2017) Ancient Egyptians and […]
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! The Unclaimed Dead (The Intercept – 7/1/2017) In Texas, the Bodies of Migrants Who […]
Will DNA Provide an Answer about Bigfoot’s Existence?

Editor’s Note: Though known by different names, versions of the legends of a half man/half ape creature have existed for many centuries in almost every corner of the globe (with the exception of Antarctica). Whether you know him as Yeti, Sasquatch, or by another name, chances are you’ve heard of him. Those in the northwest […]
Neanderthal Genes in Modern Humans

Professor Ed Green discusses sequencing of the Neanderthal genome and signs that early humans interbreed with Neanderthals. TRANSCRIPT: My name is Ed Green and I am an Assistant Professor of Biomolecular Engineering at the University of California, Santa Cruz. My research program is around genome sciences. We study all kinds of […]
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! In a Lost Baby Tooth, Scientists Find Ancient Denisovan DNA (The New York Times – […]
DNA Evidence from Lip Prints and Used Cups: Interesting Cases from the International Symposium on Human Identification. Part I

Every year, hundreds of forensic analysts attend the International Symposium on Human Identification to learn about new advances in the field of DNA typing. The talks and posters are informative, and it is a great opportunity to network with DNA analysts from around the world. As the editor of Profiles in DNA, I am fortunate to attend 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! Idaho Becomes First in the Nation with Online Tracking of Sexual Assault Kits […]
Teaching Old and New Dogs Mixture Tricks of the Future

Most forensic DNA analysts old and new have worked with scientists throughout the past that still wax nostalgically about the silver staining years (or other DNA methods that pre-date many of us). Generally speaking, nearly all DNA training programs involve components of the ‘history of DNA’ that cover the methods that led us to where […]