What is investigative genetic genealogy?

Investigative genetic genealogy is the practice of combining DNA profiles from direct-to-consumer testing databases with traditional family trees to identify suspects or unidentified remains in criminal cases. By analyzing identity-by-descent segments, genetic experts help law enforcement agencies find distant relatives and build family trees that lead to perpetrators. This method has successfully solved hundreds of cold cases and violent crimes, while also sparking ongoing debates about privacy and the use of consumer databases.

What we know

• Investigative genetic genealogy uses genetic information from direct-to-consumer testing companies and public databases like GEDMatch and Family TreeDNA to identify suspects or victims. [2]
• The investigative technique relies on analyzing identity-by-descent DNA segments to infer shared ancestry and construct family trees using public records, demographic markers, and traditional genealogical methods. [2, 4]
• As of December 2023, the use of this technology has helped solve 651 criminal cases, identified 318 individual perpetrators, and named 464 decedents. [2]
• Specialized organizations and companies, such as Parabon Nanolabs, Othram, and the DNA Doe Project, assist law enforcement agencies with family tree assembly and analysis. [2]

Still open

• The sources note an ongoing debate regarding the appropriateness of utilizing non-criminal, direct-to-consumer genetic repositories for law enforcement investigations.

Where to go next

• the bigger pictureHow do consumer genetic databases work?
• a case in pointHow was Brian Leigh Dripps Sr. identified through DNA?
• how it workedWhat role do companies like Parabon Nanolabs play?
• how we knowHow many cold cases have been resolved using genetic genealogy?
• what followedWhat privacy concerns surround forensic genetic genealogy?
• an unexpected connectionHow did consumer ancestry hobbies lead to catching serial killers?Direct-to-consumer genealogy platforms originally created for family history enthusiasts became powerful law enforcement tools capable of identifying violent criminals decades after their crimes.

Sources

• [1]forensic genealogy (Wikidata Q60740513) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Investigative genetic genealogy · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Murder of Angie Dodge · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]Genetic genealogy · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Bryan Patrick Miller · CC BY-SA 4.0

Your path

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2. /What is investigative genetic genealogy?