Top 10 Blog Posts of 2017
As 2017 winds down, let’s celebrate all that’s happened in the world of ISHI this year! We converged on Seattle, Washington for the 28th annual International Symposium on Human Identification where we discussed new technologies, probabilistic genotyping, massively parallel sequencing, and testifying as an expert witness. We also heard Michael Capuzzo present on the mysterious […]
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! Medical Examiners Use Rapid DNA to Identify Victims (Forensic Magazine – 12/8/2017) In […]
What Are Likely to be the Most Exciting Developments in Forensic Science Over the Next Couple of Years?
Forensic Science has come a long way since the discovery of PCR in 1983. From DNA fingerprinting to silver staining to multiplex kits, the industry is constantly evolving. But what’s next? We asked our ISHI 28 speakers what they think are likely to be the most exciting developments in the field of forensics over the […]
DNA Reveals the Identity of Jack the Ripper?
In the late 1800s, Victorian England was mesmerized and horrified by a series of brutal killings in the crowded and impoverished Whitechapel district. The serial killer, who became known as “Jack the Ripper”, had murdered and mutilated at least five women, many of whom worked as prostitutes in the slums around London. None of these […]
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! New Software Can Verify Someone’s Identity by Their DNA in Minutes (BioScience […]
An “Angel”, the “Killer Clown”, and the “Cleveland Strangler” – Interesting Cases from ISHI
Last time, we explored Interesting Cases that were presented at the 26th International Symposium on Human Identification. This time, we’re going back in time to ISHI 23, which was held in Nashville, TN, and featured seven interesting case presentations. We’re going to recount three of them focusing on serial killers – Sheila Labarre, John Wayne […]
POPSeq: The Human STR Sequence Diversity Database
Next-generation sequencing (NGS), also referred to as massively parallel sequencing (MPS), is evolving at a rapid pace and opening new doors to more sensitive methods for genetic typing of forensic samples [1]. This technology allows for extremely high sample and genetic marker multiplexing of conventional forensic loci and also investigative genomic data. In the scope 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! Would-be Obama Assassin Identified by Cat Hairs, Authorities Say (The Guardian – 11/24/2017) […]
Courtroom Testimony for Probabilistic Genotyping
“Ladies and Gentleman of the Jury, Jane Doe’s DNA matches the DNA found on the handle of the knife; therefore, she touched the knife and used it to stab John Doe”. As much as prosecutors would like that statement to come out of our mouths, that is not the role of the DNA Analyst. We […]
