Illegal Immigration
By Chris Asplen
Seven years ago, the decision was made to include in a DNA database those individuals identified as being in the United States illegally. A brilliant idea for several reasons.
Rapid DNA Analysis is Coming—Rapidly
By Chris Asplen
R-DNA testing, when fully implemented and integrated into CODIS, will be the most transformational event in the use of forensic DNA since the advent of PCR.
Observation of a Validation
By Sara E. Hochendoner
The Full-Scale Implementation of Automation in a Small Casework Laboratory
Ushering in a New Generation of DNA Analysts
By Arthur Eisenberg, Ph.D., Lisa Schade, BS, MHR, Jaiprkash Shewale, Meredith Turnbough
Establishing the Life Technologies Center for Forensic Excellence
Ted Bundy vs. Arrestee DNA Databasing
By Chris Asplen
It’s more than a little ironic that the week before the DNA of Ted Bundy, one of America’s most notorious serial killers, is entered into a DNA database, the First Appellate Court in California has ruled its arrestee database to be unconstitutional.
Inside the Black Box: Testing and Validation of a Rapid DNA Instrument
By Peter M. Vallone, Ph.D.
Technological advances will soon make rapid DNA testing (R-DNA) feasible and practical. But these new “lab on a chip” portable forensic DNA sampling systems also pose new challenges for the forensic DNA typing community.
Family Feud: The Familial DNA Search Controversy Continues
By David Kaye, Stephen Mercer, Brad Jenkins
Despite some vocal criticisms and concerns regarding the practice of familial DNA searching, it is being increasingly considered. What that means for the forensic community remains to be seen, but for states that have moved forward with familial searching programs, protocols continue to be refined.
DNA Identification of the Missing After the WTC Attacks: A Cooperative Public/Private Effort
By Dr. Robert Shaler, Thomas J. Bode, Sr.
Although DNA had played a significant role in the identification of victims of other mass fatality events, the WTC DNA identification effort created unprecedented challenges. These challenges were met by public/private partnerships that enhanced and created new technology to meet the needs of this human tragedy.
The New Eyewitness
By Manfred Kayser, Ph.D.
Forensic DNA Phenotyping—predicting a person’s appearance by analyzing crime scene samples with suitable DNA markers—is a nascent science. But the potential exists. The scientific work just needs to be done.
Easy Species DNA Identification for the Forensic Laboratory Using 12S Mitochondrial DNA
By Terry Melton
When a highly probative crime scene sample gives “no results” for the standard human mitochondrial DNA or STR assays one question remains unanswered: is this a highly degraded human sample with unrecoverable DNA, or a non-human sample?
Tragedy in South Africa
By Chris Asplen
The most important factor influencing the potential effect of DNA in any criminal justice system is what the law allows you to do with it.
Storing DNA on Fabric
By Mona M. Awny, Fadia Moustafa Atteia, Azza El-Elemi, Nahed M. M. Ali
A study on the effect of storage duration and fabric type on DNA quantity extracted from dried seminal stains.
Accessibility and the Backlog: Rethinking DNA Capability and Capacity
By Valerie Mattimore Fuller, Ph.D.
The DNA testing community must rethink its conventional mindset and reexamine traditional DNA analysis procedures.
Leading By Example
By Chris Asplen
As I began to put together some notes and think about the benchmarks of DNA’s integration into our American system of justice, I inevitably began to think about the people who have been integral to that process. For all of those who stand out in their individual fields of expertise, one person came to mind who, has contributed to the whole picture, Dr. Paul Ferrara.
The Forensic Science Service - R.I.P.
By Chris Asplen
On December 14, 2010, the British government announced that by March 2012, the FSS would be closed down. It is a monumental event in the forensic science community.
DNA, Drug Forfeitures, and more DNA
By Chris Asplen
A local database with a rapid turnaround time and results that can be quickly entered into that database has huge benefits.
DNA 4 Africa
By Chris Asplen
Nowhere in the world is forensic DNA technology more needed than on the continent of Africa—and nowhere is it less available. That must change.
Property Crime Sample Processing: Law Enforcement Experiences and Crime Laboratory Efficiencies
By Lisa Calandro, Lynne Burley, Detective Joseph Blozis, Lisa Schade, BS, MHR
Careful attention to sample collection and improved extraction methods coupled with implementation of enhanced amplification systems will greatly benefit laboratories seeking to harness the power of DNA evidence for property crime samples.
Partial Match Searching
By Chris Asplen
Apparently, the “National” DNA database isn’t very national. The state, or more appropriately officials in the state, that maintains the offender information can choose not to release that information.
An Open Letter to the Honorable Luis Moreno Ocampo, Chief Prosecutor for the International Criminal Court
By Chris Asplen
Gender based sexual violence, genocide, sexual slavery, human trafficking, and the trafficking of human body parts are only a few areas in which DNA technology could begin to save untold lives in Africa.
DNA Sampling Made Easy
By Betsy Moran
Progress in the field of forensic DNA profiling
The DNA of Lab Infrastructure
By Michael Mount, Adam Denmark
Architecture and Engineering to Support Forensic DNA Labs
New Tools Enhance Forensic DNA Casework Analysis
By Lisa Schade, BS, MHR, Arthur Eisenberg, Ph.D.
New laws are increasing DNA caseloads, but recent and upcoming technology is helping to close the gap and improve the quality of forensic DNA testing and analysis.
Facing Today's DNA Lab Challenges
By Ken Mohr
Making more office space, calculating the amount of DNA staff needed to work DNA backlogs, and creating more storage space are issues common to DNA labs today.
Who Framed DNA Analysis?
By Chris Asplen
When I got a call from one of the national news agencies recently asking me about a New York Times article citing a new study from Israel showing the ability to “fabricate” DNA, I was not nearly as excited about it as they were.
