The creation of new technologies and their application to forensic science is key to the field's development. Rapid DNA profiling is one such area of research which has grown in response to a desire from enforcement authorities for in-house forensic DNA processing and rapid access to forensic genetic intelligence. However, introducing novel technologies into the forensics market must be careful...

This article provides a comparison between genomic medicine and forensic genetics in Mexico, in light of recent depictions of the nation as a 'país de gordos' (country of the fat) and a 'país de muertos' (country of the dead). We examine the continuities and ruptures in the public image of genetics in these two areas of attention, health and security, focusing especially on how the relevant pub...

DNA fingerprinting, one of the great discoveries of the late 20 th century, has revolutionized forensic investigations. The DNA molecule became the most powerful single tool in the multifaceted fight against crime. DNA analysis led to the exoneration of suspects and identification of victims of crimes, accidents and disasters. The review gives an outline of different and recent technologies in ...

The South African lion (Panthera leo) population is highly fragmented. One-third of its wild lions occur in small (<1000 km(2)) reserves. These lions were reintroduced from other areas of the species' historical range. Management practices on these reserves have not prioritized genetic provenance or heterozygosity. These trends potentially constrain the conservation value of these lions. To ens...

Joël Vos1, Encarna Gómez-García, Jan C. Oosterwijk, Fred H. Menko, Reinoud D. Stoel, Christi J. van Asperen1, Anna M. Jansen1, Anne M. Stiggelbout, Aad Tibben. 1 Department of Clinical Genetics, Center for Human and Clinical Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands. 2 Department of Clinical Genetics, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands. 3...

Population genetics is the study of genetic variability within a population and of the forces that act upon it. As well as being of central importance to our understanding of evolution from prehistoric to modern times, it now also affects our everyday lives — whether considering human genetic disease, how to avoid the extinction of rare species or the merits of ‘DNA fingerprinting’ in forensic ...

The analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) has proven useful in forensic genetics and ancient DNA (aDNA) studies, where specimens are often highly compromised and DNA quality and quantity are low. In forensic genetics, the mtDNA control region (CR) is commonly sequenced using established Sanger-type Sequencing (STS) protocols involving fragment sizes down to approximately 150 base pairs (bp). Re...

Experience gained in clinical genetics led to the fundamental idea of using X-chromosomal markers in a wide range of forensic applications. To date more than 30 STRs have been established as forensic markers. Joint typing of very tightly linked STRs yields stable haplotypes, and can be used for establishing the relationship between distant relatives, such as aunt-niece pairs and cousins. For su...