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Science:
One Genetic Marker at a Time
dnA helpS cAtch the crIMInAl. You’ve seen it on TV
police shows, heard about it in real-life court cases, and read about it in detective
novels. Investigators find DNA at a crime scene then match it to someone in a law
enforcement database.
But what happens when you have the DNA and no database match?
According to Columbian College Assistant Professor of Forensic Sciences
daniele podini, unmatched DNA can still be a powerful tool for
investigators since it contains a treasure trove of information about
gender, race, ancestry, eye color, skin tone, or even whether a person is
bald or has curly hair.
Since January, Podini, armed with a two-year, $256,000 research grant from
the National Institute of Justice, has taken the DNA samples of 173 volunteers
to see just how reliable those samples are in revealing genetic information. His
goal is to develop an investigative kit—for inferring ancestry and physical
appearance—which can be run through existing DNA analysis equipment in
police labs.
An article in the May issue of Scientific American noted that Podini’s research
could open the door for investigators to develop DNA profiles, akin to the sketches
that police artists create from eyewitness descriptions. The information has the
potential to assist police and other law enforcement agencies in narrowing the
search for suspects.
columbian college of arts and sciences forensics page 17