Identifying the Disappeared of Guatemala
Fredy Peccerelli of the Forensic Anthropology Foundation shares how he became involved with identifying the Disappeared of Guatemala and the process of using DNA to empower the victims’ families. TRANSCRIPT: My name is Fredy Peccerelli. I’m the Executive Director of the Guatemala Forensic Anthropology Foundation. We’re an organization that focuses on […]
The Reality of DNA Phenotyping
It is easy to get excited or frightened about the predictive powers of DNA phenotyping, depending on your perspective. Knowing what genes led to higher intelligence and athletic ability was the first step towards the designer babies of GATTACA. Is this knowledge worth having given the potential for misuse? Going to such extremes with genetic selection makes for […]
Identifying Astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus
Marie Allen of Uppsala University shares how her team identified the remains of astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus through DNA analysis. TRANSCRIPT: My name is Marie Allen, and I’m a professor in Forensic Genetics as Uppsala University in Sweden. I work mainly with forensic research. We work quite a lot with trying to enhance […]
Q&A: Finding the ‘disappeared’ in Argentina and Mexico
The story of 43 students that were kidnapped in Iguala, Mexico — all of whom are now presumed dead — has gripped the country for weeks. But it is just one of many stories of grieving families, outrage and mass graves filled with dozens of bodies, many badly burned. Mexico’s wave of violence continues, making headlines worldwide. […]
Unboxing Justice: The State of the Sexual Assault Kit Backlog in the United States
If you’ve watched or read the news at all over the past year, you know that reducing the sexual assault kit backlog has been simultaneously a top concern and priority across the nation. In July of 2015, USA Today partnered with journalists from 75+ Gannett newspapers and TEGNA TV stations to “perform the most detailed nationwide […]
Discovering the Truth About the Dozier School for Boys
The Dozier School for Boys had cemeteries instead of playgrounds. Written by: Greg Emmerich, Promega Corporation The stories of abuse that took place at the reformative school in Marianna, Florida are nothing short of a plot for the TV series American Horror Story. The beatings and other punishments administered to students throughout the school’s […]
The State of the Sexual Assault Kit Backlog in the United States, Part 2
Last week on the blog, we began our in-depth look at the sexual assault kit backlog that is plaguing the nation. We discussed what the backlog is, why it exists, additional challenges, and a study that was initiated to improve the investigation process for victims. This week, we wanted to examine what’s being done to […]
Mitochondrial DNA Analysis in Forensic Investigations
In anticipation of the 27th International Symposium on Human Identification, here is a preview of one talk, provided by Dr. Mitchell Holland of Penn State University . The focus of Dr. Holland’s research is mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis and its application to human identification. At ISHI, he will be presenting his recent work using NextGen […]
NIST 3D Ballistics Research Database
It’s a staple of the TV-crime drama: a ballistics expert tries to match two bullets using a microscope with a split-screen display. One bullet was recovered from the victim’s body and the other was test-fired from a suspect’s gun. If the striations on the bullets line up—cue the sound of a cell door slamming shut—the […]
