Jamaica Observer
IN 2007, two years after its creation, Caribbean Genetics (CARIGEN) burst into the public spotlight with research suggesting that more than 30 per cent of Jamaican men were not the biological fathers of their children.
Monthly Archives: February 2011
UWI’s DNA gold mine
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Posted in Forensic Industry News, Paternity
Mothers Can Get Baby DNA Samples
Centreville Patch Virginia
Inova Fair Oaks and other Virginia hospitals will have to offer new mothers a take-home DNA sample from their baby under a bill approved at the request of the forensic sleuth who inspired the fictional crime fighter, Dr. Kay Scarpetta.
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Posted in Database, Forensic Industry News
SA is unlikely to pass DNA legislation any time soon
Business Day News South Africa
LEGISLATION making it possible to collect DNA samples from suspects or convicted offenders is unlikely to be passed by Parliament any time soon.
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Posted in DNA Legislation, Forensic Industry News
Second autopsy uncovers new evidence
Trinidad Express Trinidad and Tobago
A second autopsy has been performed on the body of eight-year-old Daniel Guerra, who was found dead in a river last Sunday, two days after he was taken from outside his home.
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Posted in Current Cases
Crime lab in Maynard uncovers DNA clues
Metrowest Daily News Massachusetts
MAYNARD — Inside a third-floor lab off Acton Street, a box-shaped EZ1 Advanced XL countertop robot – “Ernie” – is now helping the Massachusetts State Police crime lab tackle the 1,500 or so DNA cases received each year.
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Posted in Forensic Industry News
Criminalist: No Spector DNA on gun
Today on MSNBC
LOS ANGELES — Phil Spector’s DNA was not found on the gun that killed Lana Clarkson, a criminalist testified Monday, but he suggested it might have been hidden under the large amount of the actress’ blood on the weapon.
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Posted in Current Cases, Forensic Industry News
DNA traces criminals in the family
MSNBC
In 1988, 20-year-old Lynette White was fatally stabbed in South Wales. The murder went unsolved for 15 years, until a fresh DNA sweep of her apartment in 2000 turned up spots of blood on a skirting board that had been missed the first time around.
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Posted in Ancestry, Database, DNA Legislation, Familial
Christchurch earthquake: DNA sought to identify victims
New Zealand Herald
Families awaiting news on the Christchurch earthquake are receiving calls from disaster victim identification teams, asking them to bring in toothbrushes and hairbrushes and anything else that may help formally identify their loved ones.
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Posted in Missing Persons
125 new DNA samples collected at Logan County Jail under Katie’s Law
Journal Advocate Colorado
STERLING — The Colorado Bureau of Investigation announced last week the early results from a new Colorado law requiring that biological samples be taken from all adults arrested for new felony offenses.
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Posted in Database
Mapping humanity’s past
Mercury News
How unlikely: Swab the inside of your cheek with a Q-tip, and step back into the vastness of history.
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Posted in Ancient DNA
Courts ‘will reject test secrecy’
BBC News UK
There is a serious mismatch between the government’s aim to commercialise forensic science and the requirement of courts for openness, according to a top forensic expert.
Peter Gill told the BBC that UK courts would not accept forensic tests whose details are kept secret due to commercial confidentiality issues.
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Posted in Forensic Industry News
11,500-year-old remains of toddler discovered
MSNBC
WASHINGTON — Some 11,500 years ago one of America’s earliest families laid the remains of a 3-year-old child to rest in their home in what is now Alaska. The discovery of that burial is shedding new light on the life and times of the early settlers who crossed from Asia to the New World, researchers report in Friday’s edition of the journal Science.
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Posted in Ancient DNA
State catching up on DNA samples
Wisconsin State Journal
Wisconsin authorities have collected almost half of the nearly 18,000 samples that were found to be missing from the state’s DNA databank in fall 2009.
As of this week, the Wisconsin Department of Corrections had collected 8,366 of the 17,698 missing DNA profiles, agency data shows. Of the 9,332 offenders who still owed a sample, about 95% of them have completed their sentences and are no longer under state supervision.
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Posted in Backlogs, Forensic Industry News
DNA profiles grow more helpful in solving crimes
The Columbian West Virginia
A computer database named CODIS is earning its keep big-time for police detectives around Washington.
Last year, CODIS made a record 379 “hits” — typically matching DNA profiles found at new crimes scenes with DNA profiles taken previously from criminals when they were convicted of crimes including burglary, homicides, rapes, robberies, assaults and sex and kidnapping offenses.
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Posted in Database
Biomatrica Secures Strategic Investment from IQT
Money.MSN.com
SAN DIEGO, Feb. 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Biomatrica, Inc., a leader in room temperature biostability technology, today announced a strategic partnership agreement with In-Q-Tel (IQT). IQT is the independent, strategic investment firm that identifies innovative technology solutions to support the mission of the U.S. Intelligence Community.
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Posted in Forensic Industry News