Investigative genetic genealogy

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Investigative genetic genealogy, also known as forensic genetic genealogy, is the emerging practice of utilizing genetic information from direct-to-consumer companies for identifying suspects or victims in criminal cases.[1] As of December 2023, the use of this technology has solved a total of 651 criminal cases, including 318 individual perpetrators who were brought to light.[2][3] There have also been 464 decedents identified, as well as 4 living Does.[4] The investigative power of genetic genealogy revolves around the use of publicly accessible genealogy databases such as GEDMatch and Family TreeDNA. On GEDMatch, users are able to upload their genetic data from any direct-to-consumer company in an effort to identify relatives that have tested at companies other than their own.

Identifying unknown subjects through investigative genetic genealogy is done through the use of analysis of identity-by-descent (IBD) segments of DNA that indicate shared ancestors.[5] Data available in GEDMatch, which is composed of genetic profiles from approximately 1.2 million individuals, has proven capable of identifying a third cousin or closer in over 90% of the population.[6] This information, used in tandem with demographic identifiers like age, gender, and place of residence, is sufficient for identifying any person who has a third cousin or closer within a publicly accessible genetic genealogy database.

Law enforcement agencies have leveraged the access to public databases by uploading crime-scene genealogy data and inferring relatives to potential suspects.[7][8][9] Family tree assembly and analysis of demographic identifiers is then carried out by genetic genealogy experts, either working directly for law enforcement agencies or through one of the many US companies that have been set up to work on these cases. Parabon Nanolabs is the most well known company working in this field.[10] By January 2021 Parabon claimed to have used genetic genealogy to produce an investigative lead in over 200 cases.[11] The DNA Doe Project, a non-profit organization, have also been instrumental in resolving unidentified remains cases, many of whom are victims of violent crimes.[12]

  1. ^ Kling, Daniel; Phillips, Christopher; Kennett, Debbie; Tillmar, Andreas (2021). "Investigative genetic genealogy: Current methods, knowledge and practice". Forensic Science International: Genetics. 52: 102474. doi:10.1016/j.fsigen.2021.102474. PMID 33592389. S2CID 231944378.
  2. ^ "IGG Cases". www.genealogyexplained.com. Archived from the original on 2023-12-16. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  3. ^ Dowdeswell, Tracey (22 January 2024). "The Forensic Genetic Genealogy Project". Mendeley Data. 1. doi:10.17632/cc5rh42mf9.1. Archived from the original on 1 February 2024. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  4. ^ Dowdeswell, Tracey (22 January 2024). "The Forensic Genetic Genealogy Project". Mendeley Data. 1. doi:10.17632/cc5rh42mf9.1. Archived from the original on 1 February 2024. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  5. ^ Erlich, Yaniv; Shor, Tal; Pe’er, Itsik; Carmi, Shai (2018-11-09). "Identity inference of genomic data using long-range familial searches". Science. 362 (6415): 690–694. Bibcode:2018Sci...362..690E. doi:10.1126/science.aau4832. ISSN 0036-8075. PMC 7549546. PMID 30309907.
  6. ^ Khan, Razib; Mittelman, David (2018-08-20). "Consumer genomics will change your life, whether you get tested or not". Genome Biology. 19 (1): 120. doi:10.1186/s13059-018-1506-1. ISSN 1474-760X. PMC 6100720. PMID 30124172.
  7. ^ Phillips, Chris (2018-09-01). "The Golden State Killer investigation and the nascent field of forensic genealogy". Forensic Science International: Genetics. 36: 186–188. doi:10.1016/j.fsigen.2018.07.010. ISSN 1872-4973. PMID 30041097. S2CID 51725765.
  8. ^ Murphy, Heather (July 1, 2019). "Genealogy Sites Have Helped Identify Suspects. Now They've Helped Convict One". NY Times. Archived from the original on March 16, 2021. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  9. ^ Murphy, Heather (October 5, 2019). "Playing Catch a Killer With a Room Full of Sleuths". NY Times. Archived from the original on March 9, 2021. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  10. ^ Arnold C. The controversial company using DNA to sketch the faces of criminals Archived 2024-01-16 at the Wayback Machine. Nature news feature, 9 September 2020.
  11. ^ Greytak EM. Genetic genealogy for cold case and active Investigations: 2021 update Archived 2023-07-17 at the Wayback Machine. The ISHI Report, 1 December 2021.
  12. ^ Thompson N. DNA detectives are using new tools to solve decades-old cold cases Archived 2024-01-22 at the Wayback Machine. Wired, 8 December 2020.