scholarly journals The (De)materialization of Criminal Bodies in Forensic DNA Phenotyping

2020 ◽  
pp. 1357034X2091916
Author(s):  
Rafaela Granja ◽  
Helena Machado ◽  
Filipa Queirós
Keyword(s):  
Human Body ◽  
Skin Colour ◽  
Criminal Investigation ◽  
Genetic Technology ◽  
Forensic Dna ◽  
Data Reliability ◽  
The Third ◽  
Criminal Suspect ◽  
Biogeographical Ancestry ◽  
Forensic Dna Phenotyping

Forensic DNA phenotyping is a genetic technology that might be used in criminal investigations. Based on DNA samples of the human body found at crime scenes, it allows to infer externally visible characteristics (such as eye, hair and skin colour) and continental-based biogeographical ancestry. By indicating the probable visible appearance of a criminal suspect, forensic DNA phenotyping allows to narrow down the focus of a criminal investigation. In this article, drawing on interviews with forensic geneticists, we explore how their narratives translate contemporary focus on criminal molecularized bodies. We propose the concept of (de)materialization to approach three aspects of the forensic geneticists’ views. The first regards considering bodies as mutable entities. The second relates to socially contingent meanings attributed to bodies. The third regards to controversies surrounding data reliability. By reflecting upon the (de)materialization of criminal bodies, forensic geneticists juxtapose the defence and unsettling of forensic DNA phenotyping claims.

scholarly journals Forensic DNA phenotyping: the geneticist's guide to solving murder mysteries

2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 42-43
Author(s):  
Corina Lagewaard
Keyword(s):  
Science Communication ◽  
Forensic Dna ◽  
University Of Kentucky ◽  
Control Center ◽  
The Third ◽  
Bloodbrain Barrier ◽  
The University ◽  
Forensic Dna Phenotyping

The Science Communication Competition is now in its eighth year. As in previous years, it aims to find young talented science writers and give them the opportunity to have their work published in The Biochemist. In 2015, a new branch of the competition was launched to include video entries. Overall this year's competition attracted 47 entries and these were reviewed by our external panel of expert judges. The third prize in the written category was awarded to Corina Lagewaard from the University of Tasmania, whose article is presented here. The third prize in the video category went to Julia Schulz from the University of Kentucky. Julia's video, “The BloodBrain Barrier – Protecting the Body's Control Center”, can be viewed at bit.ly/scicomm32018.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the VISAGE Basic Tool for Appearance and Ancestry Prediction Using PowerSeq Chemistry on the MiSeq FGx System

Genes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 708 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leire Palencia-Madrid ◽  
Catarina Xavier ◽  
María de la Puente ◽  
Carsten Hohoff ◽  
Christopher Phillips ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Skin Color ◽  
Massively Parallel Sequencing ◽  
Forensic Genetics ◽  
Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽  
Forensic Dna ◽  
Basic Tool ◽  
Single Nucleotide ◽  
Technical Developments ◽  
Biogeographical Ancestry ◽  
Forensic Dna Phenotyping

The study of DNA to predict externally visible characteristics (EVCs) and the biogeographical ancestry (BGA) from unknown samples is gaining relevance in forensic genetics. Technical developments in Massively Parallel Sequencing (MPS) enable the simultaneous analysis of hundreds of DNA markers, which improves successful Forensic DNA Phenotyping (FDP). The EU-funded VISAGE (VISible Attributes through GEnomics) Consortium has developed various targeted MPS-based lab tools to apply FDP in routine forensic analyses. Here, we present an evaluation of the VISAGE Basic tool for appearance and ancestry prediction based on PowerSeq chemistry (Promega) on a MiSeq FGx System (Illumina). The panel consists of 153 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that provide information about EVCs (41 SNPs for eye, hair and skin color from HIrisPlex-S) and continental BGA (115 SNPs; three overlap with the EVCs SNP set). The assay was evaluated for sensitivity, repeatability and genotyping concordance, as well as its performance with casework-type samples. This targeted MPS assay provided complete genotypes at all 153 SNPs down to 125 pg of input DNA and 99.67% correct genotypes at 50 pg. It was robust in terms of repeatability and concordance and provided useful results with casework-type samples. The results suggest that this MPS assay is a useful tool for basic appearance and ancestry prediction in forensic genetics for users interested in applying PowerSeq chemistry and MiSeq for this purpose.

scholarly journals From Identification to Intelligence: An Assessment of the Suitability of Forensic DNA Phenotyping Service Providers for Use in Australian Law Enforcement Casework

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren Atwood ◽  
Jennifer Raymond ◽  
Alison Sears ◽  
Michael Bell ◽  
Runa Daniel
Keyword(s):  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Scientific Data ◽  
Police Force ◽  
Forensic Dna ◽  
Law Enforcement Agencies ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Testing Cost ◽  
Biogeographical Ancestry ◽  
Forensic Dna Phenotyping

Forensic DNA Phenotyping (FDP) is an established but evolving field of DNA testing. It provides intelligence regarding the appearance (externally visible characteristics), biogeographical ancestry and age of an unknown donor and, although not necessarily a requirement for its casework application, has been previously used as a method of last resort in New South Wales (NSW) Police Force investigations. FDP can further assist law enforcement agencies by re-prioritising an existing pool of suspects or generating a new pool of suspects. In recent years, this capability has become ubiquitous with a wide range of service providers offering their expertise to law enforcement and the public. With the increase in the number of providers offering FDP and its potential to direct and target law enforcement resources, a thorough assessment of the applicability of these services was undertaken. Six service providers of FDP were assessed for suitability for NSW Police Force casework based on prediction accuracy, clarity of reporting, limitations of testing, cost and turnaround times. From these assessment criteria, a service provider for the prediction of biogeographical ancestry, hair and eye colour was deemed suitable for use in NSW Police Force casework. Importantly, the study highlighted the need for standardisation of terminology and reporting in this evolving field, and the requirement for interpretation by biologists with specialist expertise to translate the scientific data to intelligence for police investigators.

The power of the force: mechano-physiology of the giant titin

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (5) ◽  
pp. 681-686 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaime Andrés Rivas-Pardo
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Human Body ◽  
Actin Filaments ◽  
Polypeptide Chain ◽  
Single Gene ◽  
The Other ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
The Third ◽  
Single Polypeptide Chain ◽  
Single Polypeptide

Titin — the largest protein in the human body — spans half of the muscle sarcomere from the Z-disk to the M-band through a single polypeptide chain. More than 30 000 amino acid residues coded from a single gene (TTN, in humans Q8WZ42) form a long filamentous protein organized in individual globular domains concatenated in tandem. Owing to its location and close interaction with the other muscle filaments, titin is considered the third filament of muscle, after the thick-myosin and the thin-actin filaments.

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