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Kling D, Phillips C, Kennett D, Tillmar A. Investigative genetic genealogy: Current methods, knowledge and practice. Forensic Sci Int Genet 2021; 52:102474. [PMID: 33592389 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsigen.2021.102474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Investigative genetic genealogy (IGG) has emerged as a new, rapidly growing field of forensic science. We describe the process whereby dense SNP data, commonly comprising more than half a million markers, are employed to infer distant relationships. By distant we refer to degrees of relatedness exceeding that of first cousins. We review how methods of relationship matching and SNP analysis on an enlarged scale are used in a forensic setting to identify a suspect in a criminal investigation or a missing person. There is currently a strong need in forensic genetics not only to understand the underlying models to infer relatedness but also to fully explore the DNA technologies and data used in IGG. This review brings together many of the topics and examines their effectiveness and operational limits, while suggesting future directions for their forensic validation. We further investigated the methods used by the major direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic ancestry testing companies as well as submitting a questionnaire where providers of forensic genetic genealogy summarized their operation/services. Although most of the DTC market, and genetic genealogy in general, has undisclosed, proprietary algorithms we review the current knowledge where information has been discussed and published more openly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Kling
- Department of Forensic Genetics and Forensic Toxicology, National Board of Forensic Medicine, Linköping, Sweden; Department of Forensic Sciences, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Christopher Phillips
- Forensic Genetics Unit, Institute of Forensic Sciences, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
| | - Debbie Kennett
- Research Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Andreas Tillmar
- Department of Forensic Genetics and Forensic Toxicology, National Board of Forensic Medicine, Linköping, Sweden; Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
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Starinsky-Elbaz S, Ram T, Voskoboinik L, Pasternak Z. Weight-of-evidence for DNA identification of missing persons and human remains using CODIS. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 2020; 16:389-394. [PMID: 32394209 DOI: 10.1007/s12024-020-00248-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
DNA Identification of unidentified human remains (UHR) is performed in Israel by comparing the UHR's short tandem repeat (STR) profiles to a national database of STR profiles taken from relatives of missing persons. Kinship analysis is performed using the CODIS 7.0 software and results are stated as a Joint Pedigree Likelihood Ratio (JPLR). The weight-of-evidence for JPLR has never been studied, making it difficult to interpret the meaning of specific values in terms of whether UHR are related to specific pedigrees. Therefore, the aim of this study was to statistically determine the practical meaning and context of the JPLR. We used 440 million pairs of simulated DNA profiles and 294 pairs of real ones from known siblings, parent/offspring and unrelated persons. A Score-Based Likelihood Ratio (SBLR) was empirically constructed, validated and compared to both JPLR and the LR produced by CODIS. Our results show that CODIS's JPLR and LR values for single-person pedigrees overestimate the level of support for both "parent/child" and "siblings" propositions relative to the "unrelated" proposition, by up to two orders of magnitude. A practical table is given for correcting this phenomenon, with statistical interpretation (i.e. SBLR) for each JPLR score, including verbal levels of propositional support ranging from "no support" (SBLR<2) to "extremely strong" (SBLR>1 Million).
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Affiliation(s)
- Sigal Starinsky-Elbaz
- DNA Database Laboratory, Division of Identification and Forensic Science (DIFS), Israel Police National HQ, 91906, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Tanya Ram
- DNA Database Laboratory, Division of Identification and Forensic Science (DIFS), Israel Police National HQ, 91906, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Lev Voskoboinik
- DNA and forensic biology Laboratory, Division of Identification and Forensic Science (DIFS), Israel Police National HQ, 91906, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Zohar Pasternak
- Quality Assurance and Evidence Unit, Division of Identification and Forensic Science (DIFS), Israel Police National HQ, 91906, Jerusalem, Israel.
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Inkret J, Podovšovnik E, Zupanc T, Pajnič IZ. Nails as a primary sample type for molecular genetic identification of highly decomposed human remains. Int J Legal Med 2020; 134:1629-1638. [PMID: 32372234 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-020-02289-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
For identification of badly preserved cadavers, only a few tissues can be used as a source of DNA, mostly bones and teeth, from which sampling and DNA extraction are difficult and time-consuming. In most highly decomposed remains, the nails are preserved. The aim of this study was to evaluate nails as an alternative source of DNA instead of bones and teeth in demanding routine identification cases. An automated extraction method was optimized on nails obtained from 33 cadavers with a post-mortem interval (PMI) up to 5 years. The commercially available EZ1 Investigator Kit (Qiagen) was used for extraction, and the G2 buffer included in the kit was replaced with TNCa buffer, and DTT was added for digestion of 5 mg of nail. The DNA was purified in a Biorobot EZ1 device (Qiagen), quantified using the PowerQuant System (Promega), and STR typing was performed with the NGM kit (TFS). From 0.3 to 270 μg DNA/g of nail was obtained from the samples analyzed, with an average yield of 36 μg DNA/g of nail. Full STR profiles were obtained from all nails except one. The optimized extraction method proved to be fast and highly efficient in the removal of PCR inhibitors, and it yields high amounts of DNA for successful STR typing. Nails were implemented as the primary sample type for obtaining DNA from highly decomposed and partially skeletonized cadavers in routine forensic identification cases in our laboratory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jezerka Inkret
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Korytkova 2, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Eva Podovšovnik
- Faculty of Tourism Studies - Turistica, University of Primorska, Portorož, Slovenia
| | - Tomaž Zupanc
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Korytkova 2, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Irena Zupanič Pajnič
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Korytkova 2, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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Bertoglio B, Grignani P, Di Simone P, Polizzi N, De Angelis D, Cattaneo C, Iadicicco A, Fattorini P, Presciuttini S, Previderè C. Disaster victim identification by kinship analysis: the Lampedusa October 3rd, 2013 shipwreck. Forensic Sci Int Genet 2020; 44:102156. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fsigen.2019.102156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2019] [Revised: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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Starinsky-Elbaz S, Ariel T, Issan Y. DNA kinship analysis of unidentified human remains that led to a murder investigation. Forensic Sci Int 2019; 300:e20-e23. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.03.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Revised: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 03/28/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Issan Y, Avlas O, Daniel O. Investigation of Different Ways in Which the
CODIS
7.0 May be Used in Mass Disaster Identification. J Forensic Sci 2018; 64:852-856. [DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.13915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2018] [Revised: 09/03/2018] [Accepted: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yossi Issan
- DNA Database Laboratory Division of Identification and Forensic Science (DIFS) Israel Police Jerusalem Israel
| | - Orna Avlas
- DNA Database Laboratory Division of Identification and Forensic Science (DIFS) Israel Police Jerusalem Israel
| | - Orit Daniel
- DNA Database Laboratory Division of Identification and Forensic Science (DIFS) Israel Police Jerusalem Israel
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The successful use of familial searching in six Hungarian high profile cases by applying a new module in Familias 3. Forensic Sci Int Genet 2016; 24:24-32. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fsigen.2016.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2016] [Revised: 04/28/2016] [Accepted: 05/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Vullo CM, Romero M, Catelli L, Šakić M, Saragoni VG, Jimenez Pleguezuelos MJ, Romanini C, Anjos Porto MJ, Puente Prieto J, Bofarull Castro A, Hernandez A, Farfán MJ, Prieto V, Alvarez D, Penacino G, Zabalza S, Hernández Bolaños A, Miguel Manterola I, Prieto L, Parsons T. GHEP-ISFG collaborative simulated exercise for DVI/MPI: Lessons learned about large-scale profile database comparisons. Forensic Sci Int Genet 2015; 21:45-53. [PMID: 26716885 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsigen.2015.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2015] [Revised: 11/13/2015] [Accepted: 11/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The GHEP-ISFG Working Group has recognized the importance of assisting DNA laboratories to gain expertise in handling DVI or missing persons identification (MPI) projects which involve the need for large-scale genetic profile comparisons. Eleven laboratories participated in a DNA matching exercise to identify victims from a hypothetical conflict with 193 missing persons. The post mortem database was comprised of 87 skeletal remain profiles from a secondary mass grave displaying a minimal number of 58 individuals with evidence of commingling. The reference database was represented by 286 family reference profiles with diverse pedigrees. The goal of the exercise was to correctly discover re-associations and family matches. The results of direct matching for commingled remains re-associations were correct and fully concordant among all laboratories. However, the kinship analysis for missing persons identifications showed variable results among the participants. There was a group of laboratories with correct, concordant results but nearly half of the others showed discrepant results exhibiting likelihood ratio differences of several degrees of magnitude in some cases. Three main errors were detected: (a) some laboratories did not use the complete reference family genetic data to report the match with the remains, (b) the identity and/or non-identity hypotheses were sometimes wrongly expressed in the likelihood ratio calculations, and (c) many laboratories did not properly evaluate the prior odds for the event. The results suggest that large-scale profile comparisons for DVI or MPI is a challenge for forensic genetics laboratories and the statistical treatment of DNA matching and the Bayesian framework should be better standardized among laboratories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos M Vullo
- Equipo Argentino de Antropología Forense (EAAF), Córdoba, Argentina.
| | - Magdalena Romero
- Equipo Argentino de Antropología Forense (EAAF), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Laura Catelli
- Equipo Argentino de Antropología Forense (EAAF), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Mustafa Šakić
- International Commission for Missing Persons (ICMP), USA
| | | | - María Jose Jimenez Pleguezuelos
- Unitat Central de Laboratori Biològic, Divisió de Policia Científica, Policia de la Generalitat-Mossos d'Esquadra, BCN, Spain
| | - Carola Romanini
- Equipo Argentino de Antropología Forense (EAAF), Córdoba, Argentina
| | | | | | | | - Alexis Hernandez
- Instituto Nacional de Toxicología y Ciencias Forenses, (INTCF), Canarias, Spain
| | - María José Farfán
- Instituto Nacional de Toxicología y Ciencias Forenses, (INTCF), Madrid, Spain
| | - Victoria Prieto
- Instituto Nacional de Toxicología y Ciencias Forenses, (INTCF), Sevilla, Spain
| | - David Alvarez
- Laboratorio de ADN, Unidad Central de Análisis Científicos, Comisaría General de Policía Científica, Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | - Lourdes Prieto
- Instituto de Ciencias Forenses, Grupo de Medicina Xenómica, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Thomas Parsons
- International Commission for Missing Persons (ICMP), USA
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Kling D, Tillmar AO, Egeland T. Familias 3 - Extensions and new functionality. Forensic Sci Int Genet 2014; 13:121-7. [PMID: 25113576 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsigen.2014.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2014] [Revised: 06/23/2014] [Accepted: 07/01/2014] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In relationship testing the aim is to determine the most probable pedigree structure given genetic marker data for a set of persons. Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) based on DNA data from presumed relatives of the missing persons can be considered to be a collection of relationship problems. Forensic calculations in investigative mode address questions like "How many markers and reference persons are needed?" Such questions can be answered by simulations. Mutations, deviations from Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium (or more generally, accounting for population substructure) and silent alleles cannot be ignored when evaluating forensic evidence in case work. With the advent of new markers, so called microvariants have become more common. Previous mutation models are no longer appropriate and a new model is proposed. This paper describes methods designed to deal with DVI problems and a new simulation model to study distribution of likelihoods. There are softwares available, addressing similar problems. However, for some problems including DVI, we are not aware of freely available validated software. The Familias software has long been widely used by forensic laboratories worldwide to compute likelihoods in relationship scenarios, though previous versions have lacked desired functionality, such as the above mentioned. The extensions as well as some other novel features have been implemented in the new version, freely available at www.familias.no. The implementation and validation are briefly mentioned leaving complete details to Supplementary sections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Kling
- Department of Family Genetics, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway; Department for Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Aas, Norway.
| | - Andreas O Tillmar
- Department of Forensic Genetics and Forensic Toxicology, National Board of Forensic Medicine, Linköping, Sweden; Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
| | - Thore Egeland
- Department for Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Aas, Norway; Department of Forensic Genetics, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.
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Montelius K, Lindblom B. DNA analysis in Disaster Victim Identification. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 2011; 8:140-7. [PMID: 22009165 DOI: 10.1007/s12024-011-9276-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/12/2011] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
DNA profiling and matching is one of the primary methods to identify missing persons in a disaster, as defined by the Interpol Disaster Victim Identification Guide. The process to identify a victim by DNA includes: the collection of the best possible ante-mortem (AM) samples, the choice of post-mortem (PM) samples, DNA-analysis, matching and statistical weighting of the genetic relationship or match. Each disaster has its own scenario, and each scenario defines its own methods for identification of the deceased.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerstin Montelius
- National Board of Forensic Medicine, Department of Forensic Genetics and Forensic Toxicology, Artillerigatan 12, 587 58, Linköping, Sweden.
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