The development of forensic DNA analysis: New debates on the issue of fundamental human rights

Oosthuizen, Tersia; Howes, LM

doi:10.1016/j.fsigen.2021.102606

Cited by 13 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…Subsequently to these publications, there have been several manuscripts that highlight the key role of intelligence involving the crime laboratory [45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57]. While these manuscripts address the role of intelligence in general, other contributions to the literature address the role of intelligence in specific areas of investigation including crime scene investigation [58,59], DNA [60][61][62][63][64][65][66][67][68][69][70][71][72][73][74][75][76][77][78], digital evidence [79][80][81][82][83][84][85][86][87][88], document examination [89][90][91], drugs-controlled substances [38,…”

Section: Recent Literature On Forensic Intelligencementioning

confidence: 99%

Intelligence and the Value of Forensic Science

Speaker

2024

Forensic Sciences

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Recent research has seen a rapid expansion in the reference to front-end forensics as an indication of the untapped value of forensic science. While some of these contributions have centered on development of forensic intelligence from a single area of investigation, others call for a more fundamental change in the relationship between crime laboratories and policing, particularly relating early laboratory analysis with big datasets to provide leads to investigators. We highlight several recently implemented tactical strategies of crime laboratories that contribute to the body of forensic intelligence. Beyond the scientific gains from these tactical applications, the corresponding details on associated efficiencies, costs, time savings, and quality improvements offer insights towards patterns of success for the community of crime laboratories. Further details expand an interpretation of what constitutes success with an eye on the contributions of the crime laboratory towards public health, safety, and protection of the innocent in addition to societal gains from conviction of the guilty. The economic interpretation of the value provided by the forensic laboratory assists in the cost–benefit review of strategic and tactical decisions and supports the justification for laboratory public funding with measures of the return on investment from public support of the forensic laboratory. Examples of the cost savings from crimes avoided include the returns from testing the backlog of unsubmitted sexual assault kits with USD 81 of costs avoided for each USD 1 spent to high-efficiency laboratories achieving gains of USD 646 for each UD 1 spent on de novo case submissions.

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Section: Recent Literature On Forensic Intelligencementioning

confidence: 99%

Intelligence and the Value of Forensic Science

Speaker

2024

Forensic Sciences

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“…There are more DNA profiles in most criminal investigation databases from criminal offenders than non-criminals. A biased, partial hit may result from this [48].…”

Section: Legal and Ethical Challenges With Familial Dna Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Forensic Investigation Approaches of DNA Analysis and Criminal Investigation

Padmanabhan¹,

Sapna²

2023

IJSSE

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Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) has been a significant factor in the criminal justice system since it was first used in forensic investigations. The reference sample's DNA profile is typically compared to the DNA profile from the evidence sample from the crime scene criminal cases. Familial DNA analysis can identify a person and provide significant investigation leads even without a reference sample for comparison in a criminal investigation process. The potential source of a forensic biological sample is determined using several indirect database searching techniques. These DNA-based techniques include Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis, investigative genetic genealogy (IGG), familial searching, and Y-STR database searching. This study examined these methods and compares them in terms of searching efficiency, database structures, searching methods, genotyping technologies, data security, data quality, and costs. It also raises several possible legal and privacy problems for scientists to consider further. The significance of familial DNA analysis, the procedures used for finding and identifying relatives using familial DNA, and its benefits in forensics are all covered in this paper. Additionally, future options for the appropriate application of this technology and social, legal, and ethical concerns related to familial DNA analysis have been considered.

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“…FDP represents a historical and relevant improvement in forensic genetic technologies available to investigators in criminal cases. First, it shifts the focus of forensic science to the construction of evidence as a reliable and substantial contribution to investigations [ 3 , 4 ]. Second, FDP moves the focus from individualization of the suspects towards a group of ‘suspects’ sharing genetic origin or presenting specific externally visible characteristics (EVCs) [ 5 , 6 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forensic DNA Phenotyping: Genes and Genetic Variants for Eye Color Prediction

Brancato,

Coniglio,

Bruno

et al. 2023

Genes

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In recent decades, the use of genetic polymorphisms related to specific phenotypes, such as eye color, has greatly contributed to the development of the research field called forensic DNA phenotyping (FDP), enabling the investigators of crime cases to reduce the number of suspects, making their work faster and more precise. Eye color is a polygenic phenotype, and many genetic variants have been highlighted, with the major contributor being the HERC2-OCA2 locus, where many single nucleotide variations (SNPs) were identified. Interestingly, the HERC2-OCA2 locus, containing the intronic SNP rs12913832, the major eye color determinant, shows a high level of evolutionary conservation across many species of vertebrates. Currently, there are some genetic panels to predict eye color by genomic DNA analysis, even if the exact role of the SNP variants in the formation of eye color is still poorly understood, with a low level of predictivity in the so-called intermediate eye color. Many variants in OCA2, HERC2, and other genes lie in introns or correspond to synonymous variants, highlighting greater complexity in the mechanism of action of such genes than a simple missense variation. Here, we show the main genes involved in oculocutaneous pigmentation and their structural and functional features, as well as which genetic variants show the highest level of eye color predictivity in currently used FDP assays. Despite the great recent advances and impact of FDP in criminal cases, it is necessary to enhance scientific research to better understand the mechanism of action behind each genetic variant involved in eye color, with the goal of obtaining higher levels of prediction.

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The development of forensic DNA analysis: New debates on the issue of fundamental human rights

Cited by 13 publications

References 56 publications

Intelligence and the Value of Forensic Science

Intelligence and the Value of Forensic Science

Forensic Investigation Approaches of DNA Analysis and Criminal Investigation

Forensic DNA Phenotyping: Genes and Genetic Variants for Eye Color Prediction

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