Massively Parallel Sequencing for Forensic DNA Analysis
Massively parallel sequencing (MPS), also called next generation sequencing (NGS), has the potential to alleviate some of the biggest challenges facing forensic laboratories, namely degraded DNA and samples containing DNA from multiple contributors. Unlike capillary electrophoresis, MPS genotyping methods do not require fluorescently-labeled oligonucleotides to distinguish amplification products of similar size. Furthermore, it is not […]
Improving DNA Phenotyping for Forensics
Krystal Breslin describes the work that she’s doing at IUPUI to discover which SNPs determine eye, skin, and hair color in the hopes of making mug shots available to the police where eye witness testimony is not available. TRANSCRIPT: My name is Krystal Breslin. I work at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, or […]
Catching a Serial Killer
“Is your life just like CSI?” That is the prevailing question I get asked when someone learns of my occupation as Deputy Sheriff Criminalist for the Contra Costa County (CA) Office of the Sheriff. Alas, my life is not quite so glamorous. It actually often entails entering formulas into an excel spreadsheet while being placed […]
Autosomal and Y-STR Analysis of Degraded DNA from 120-Year-Old Skeletal Remains
Angie Ambers of the Institute of Applied Genetics (UNTHSC) describes how she processes skeletal remains to determine an individual’s identity, and how she identified a Confederate guerilla scout from the American Civil War using this technology. TRANSCRIPT: My name is Doctor Angie Ambers, and I work for the Institute of Applied Genetics, […]
More Sensitivity Requires More Samples
One of the greatest challenges of DNA has been to avoid contamination, specifically trying to avoid the DNA analyst or the person collecting the evidence from leaving their own DNA on a sample. There are many opportunities for this type of contamination to occur, whether it happens when the evidence is first collected or during […]
The CSI Effect: Has Gil Grissom Broken the Justice System?
According to Entertainment Weekly, crime drama television shows accounted for 13 of the top 50 television shows watched during the 2014-2015 season. The number of viewers these television shows brought in is a staggering 159.46 million viewers. With these kinds of numbers, it’s safe to say that the average American citizen is familiar with the […]
Does Bias Exist in Forensic Science?
A basic principle of psychology says that a person’s desires and expectations will influence how they perceive and interpret what they see. Is neutrality then a myth? Will a person always be influenced by what they have observed or are told? More importantly, will this information impact the conclusion they reach? In many aspects of […]
Phenotyping – What Can and Should We Predict?
David Ballard of King’s College London describes what phenotyping can accurately predict, the ethical and legal issues surrounding the topic, and the role it should play in solving crime. TRANSCRIPT: I’m David Ballard. I’m a Research Associate in Forensic Genetics at King’s College London. We’re a group that does both casework, research, […]
Catching a Child Abuser in 5 Days
Among all crimes committed, crimes against children are especially heinous, and it is vitally important that these offenders are removed from the streets as soon as possible to prevent them from committing a second crime. The case that follows is one that was solved in just five days by the Anne Arundel County Crime Lab […]
