SF ordinance calls for faster DNA testing

Bay Area Reporter
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors recently passed an ordinance calling for DNA from sexual assault cases to be tested within two weeks of collection.

New crime lab director named

Mercury News California
After a nationwide search to find a new leader for Santa Clara County’s crime lab, District Attorney Jeff Rosen selected a DNA expert who recently conducted a highly regarded investigation into botched blood alcohol tests

Salt Lake police secure $2 million in federal grant money

KSL.com
SALT LAKE CITY — The Salt Lake City Police Department has secured more than $2 million in federal grant money to use on various projects.

Geneticists to drill 18,000-year-old ‘hobbit’ tooth to extract DNA

Thai Indian News
London, Jan 6 (ANI): In the hope of extracting DNA samples, a team of geneticists will analyse a roughly 18,000-year-old tooth that belongs to ‘hobbit’ Homo floresiensis, 1-metre-tall extinct distant relative of modern humans that was found in Indonesia.

Egypt Police: DNA analysis reveals church bomber 23-25 year old male

Ahram.org Egypt
DNA analysis of the remains of the suspected bomber responsible for the murderous New Year’s Eve attack on the Two Saints Church in Alexandria indicate that the suspect was male, 23-25 years of age, a police source told Ahram Online.

D.C. considering taking crime lab away from police control

The Washington Examiner
The D.C. Council is considering a bill that would take away control of its crime laboratory from the police, creating a new government department of forensics that would report directly to the mayor. Councilman Phil Mendelson said the change, which is modeled after Virginia’s forensics department, would create higher standards, fewer errors and more reliable findings.

Painting a suspect’s portrait with DNA

BBC News
A sketch or e-fit based on an eyewitness description, together with information about height, build, age and ethnicity can help lead police to a suspect.
But how many of these details could be obtained from blood or DNA left at a crime scene?