Thanks to the expertise of analysts in the crime laboratories of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida’s police departments, sheriff’s offices and other crime fighting agencies throughout the state now have another way to link a suspect with the crime scene, using male-specific DNA testing.

Y-STR DNA testing has already played a role in the arrests of a violent rape suspect in Gainesville, and has provided evidence in a Tampa homicide.

“Our expanded ability to test the male chromosome will result in the resolution of cold cases and future cases,” stated FDLE Commissioner Gerald Bailey. “We are pleased with how this method of DNA testing is able to assist law enforcement by providing the latest developments in science and technology.”

The Y-STR test targets the male Y chromosome. It ignores the female DNA and reveals only the male DNA. According to FDLE Forensic Services Director Vickie Gardner, the Y-STR testing is being performed in violent crime casework that has already had standard DNA testing attempted, and when the circumstances of the investigation would benefit from this male-specific DNA testing.

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Source: North Country Gazette