Genetic Traces of Extinct Human Species Discovered

DNA collected from modern hunter-gatherers — the Pygmies of Cameroon, the Sandawe and Hadza of Tanzania, and the Khoe-San of southern Africa — is suggesting a new narrative of our human roots. This more complicated scenario traces our roots to a fractured collection of ethnic groups who periodically interbred across the lines.

Oldest DNA Match in History Links Dead American Convict to Highway of Tears Victim

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have linked the DNA of a deceased American convict who had a history of violent offences against women to at least one victim from British Columbia’s notorious Highway of Tears.

Government bill aims to build pool of DNA samples of ‘offenders’; experts fear possible misuse

India
NEW DELHI: The government plans to introduce a bill in Parliament that aims to create a pool of “DNA profiles” of “offenders” as part of efforts to make crime detection more effective in the country. However, many experts warn of likely misuse of such sweeping powers.

Police use new powers to store DNA

Police forces are to add the profiles of thousands of criminals to a DNA database with the aim solving more crimes, it has been reported. But campaigners are confused as to why scare resources are being spent on the activity.

Bill May Eliminate Rape Kit Backlog

A Fort Worth, Texas science center may play a major role in reducing the huge backlog of untested rape kits across the country.

Louisiana death row inmate 300th prisoner freed by DNA evidence

A Louisiana man was released from death row on Friday after serving 15 years for a crime that DNA evidence shows he did not commit.
Damon Thibodeaux, 38, was the 300th prisoner nationwide to see his conviction overturned based on DNA evidence, according to lawyers who represented him from the New York-based Innocence Project. He was the 18th death row prisoner freed based on such evidence.

DNA from maggot guts used to identify corpse in criminal case

A team of pathologists has published a paper revealing how, for the first time, crime investigators identified the body of a burn victim by conducting a DNA analysis of the gastrointestinal contents of the maggots feeding on the remains.

NIJ Funded Software Tools, Apps and Databases

NIJ has funded a number of free or low cost software tools, apps and databases to assist with investigations or research.

Promega PowerPlex® Fusion Delivers More Information for Challenging Forensic Casework, Databasing and Paternity Cases

Promega announces the launch of the PowerPlex® Fusion System, a 24-locus multiplex that incorporates common and informative loci used throughout the world.

Indiana State Police crime labs earn international accreditation

The four crime labs run by the Indiana State Police, including the facility in Lowell, have achieved international accreditation, Indiana State Police announced Wednesday.