Crowdsourced and crowdfunded: the future of forensic DNA?

ABSTRACT

Forensic DNA analysis is dependent on comparing the known and the unknown. Expand the number of known profiles, and the likelihood of a successful match increases. Forensic use of DNA is moving towards comparing samples of unknown origin with publicly available genetic data, such as the records held by genetic genealogy providers. Use of forensic genetic genealogy has yielded a number of recent high-profile successes but has raised ethical and privacy concerns. Navigating family trees is complex, even more so when combined with a comparison of genetic relationships. This intelligence-gathering process has led to occasional false leads, and its use also risks a public backlash, similar to concerns over Cambridge Analytica. A cautious approach to use of this technique is therefore warranted.

KEYWORDS:

• Forensic genetic genealogy
• privacy
• familial DNA
• forensic DNA analysis

Acknowledgements

Research for this article was supported by an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship. This article also draws on research funded by the Endeavour Scholarships and Fellowships a Department of Education and Training initiative.

The opinions expressed in this article are the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of any associated agency or institution. This article has been updated and revised from a shortened version: Scudder N, McNevin D. Is your genome really your own? The public and forensic value of DNA. The Conversation, 2 May 2018.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.