Major
Forensic Science
Anticipated Graduation Year
2021 (Saviozzi), 2022 (Stemmler & McCaffrey)
Access Type
Open Access
Abstract
Traditional forensic DNA analysis analyzes short tandem repeats (STRs), which do not contain genetic information or correlate to phenotypes. Recently, criminal investigators have begun exploring Forensic Genetic Genealogy (FGG) and Forensic DNA Phenotyping (FDP) when traditional methods fail to provide leads. Both technologies use analysis of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) and have ongoing ethical concerns in casework. Even more concerning is the use of these technologies by government agencies against their own citizens, especially minorities. This work introduces the technologies and explores ethical concerns for their use in casework as well as use against Uyghurs in China.
Faculty Mentors & Instructors
Wendy Gruhl, Lecturer, Forensic Science Program
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.
Emerging Forensic DNA Technologies & Ethical Concerns
Traditional forensic DNA analysis analyzes short tandem repeats (STRs), which do not contain genetic information or correlate to phenotypes. Recently, criminal investigators have begun exploring Forensic Genetic Genealogy (FGG) and Forensic DNA Phenotyping (FDP) when traditional methods fail to provide leads. Both technologies use analysis of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) and have ongoing ethical concerns in casework. Even more concerning is the use of these technologies by government agencies against their own citizens, especially minorities. This work introduces the technologies and explores ethical concerns for their use in casework as well as use against Uyghurs in China.