Uncovering History: How Forensic DNA Identified African Ancestry in a Forgotten Burial Site

At ISHI 35, Martin MacStudy, a former forensic biology master’s student at Virginia Commonwealth University, shared his groundbreaking research on the East Marshall Street Well, where over 500 human remains were uncovered in Richmond, VA. Using mitochondrial DNA and next-generation sequencing (NGS), his work is helping to reconstruct identities and reveal the ancestry of individuals […]

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! Navajo Nation Delegate Charles-Newton Champions Continued Support for Forensic DNA Technology at COLT Meeting […]

AI Meets IGG: How Indago Is Scaling Cold Case Solutions

What happens when you combine FBI experience, artificial intelligence, and a relentless passion for solving the unsolvable? In this ISHI 35 interview, two of Indago’s co-founders, Steve Busch and Isaak Boseman, sit down to share how their team is revolutionizing investigative genetic genealogy (IGG). From Steve’s career-shaping moments at the FBI to Isaak’s background in […]

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! 1983 Cold Case Murder Arrest (Linn County Iowa – 5/28/2025) Linn County, Iowa sheriff’s […]

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! Chemung County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI Team with Othram to Identify a 2022 […]

Improving SANE Exams for Victims: Does the Use of Lubricants Impact DNA Recovery?

What do water-based lubricants have to do with forensic DNA analysis? At ISHI 35, Student Ambassador Kierra Field shared her research on how these substances impact DNA collection and STR profiles, while also reflecting on her journey into forensic science. In this inspiring interview, discover: 🔬 Kierra’s groundbreaking research and findings on DNA loss in […]

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! IGG Identifies Another Likely Victim of ‘Scorecard Killer’ 45 Years Later (Forensic – 5/14/2025) […]

Improving Forensic DNA Accuracy: Evaluating Sequencing in Diverse Populations

Can DNA sequencing help us better understand diverse populations? At ISHI 35, Ashley Welk presented her research evaluating Promega’s PowerSeq® system on Lebanese DNA samples to explore how well forensic sequencing kits perform across different populations. In this interview, Ashley explains: 🔬 How forensic DNA sequencing identifies individuals and improves casework 💡 The importance of […]