DNA: most people believe Watson and Crick discovered DNA in 1953, but DNA itself was discovered the 1860s while studying white blood cells. Watson and Crick built on nearly 100 years of research by dozens of scientists to finally define the structure of the double helix.
In 1881 Albrecht identified nuclein as a nucleic acid and provided its present chemical name, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). He also isolated the five nucleotide? bases that are the building blocks of DNA and RNA?: adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), thymine (T) and uracil (U).
Starting with the Beagle in 1859 to the completion of the Human Genome Program with Craig Venter in 2003, the timeline for these discoveries is here. In less than 200 years scientists discovered not only what makes us human but each of us a singular and unique human being.
There has been a lot written lately about police forces using DNA databases from genealogy sites to solve cold cases. Using DNA to identify a criminal is not new.
In 1986 was when DNA was first used in a criminal investigation by Dr.Jeffreys. 1986. The investigation used genetic fingerprinting in a case of two rapes and murders that had happened in 1983 and 1986. These crimes happened in a small town called Leicestershire, which is located in the United Kingdom.
The use of DNA to identify victims of war and disaster has become commonplace. In these cases, the comparison and identification are done using an existing sample of the victim or close relative for matching. DNA was used extensively after 911 to return victim remains to loved ones, but without a sample, for a match, many have remained unidentified. DNA has been used in criminal proceedings for more than 30 years, it is a powerful tool that both convicts and exonerates. It is such an effective tool because no one has exactly the same DNA, not even identical twins.
CODIS Combined DNA Index System is run by the FBI and used by local law enforcement all over the country. NDIS is the national database which includes CODIS. When a crime is committed if possible a DNA profile is created from biological evidence and that profile is checked against CODIS records which includes DNA from known criminals and also unknowns. This is much like the process of victim identification because generally if there is a match it will be to a known sample. DNA profiles developed for CODIS and NDIS are different from the profiles used for genetic genealogy and aren’t interchangeable because of the abbreviated dataset of the CODIS profiles.
None of these methods are remotely similar to genetic genealogy, even though they all use DNA, they use DNA differently. Genealogical DNA tests use autosomal DNA and the variations within each gene called Alleles. For example the variation for eye color in the gene that determines color.
Autosomal DNA is a term used in genetic genealogy to describe DNA which is inherited from the autosomal chromosomes. An autosome is any of the numbered chromosomes, as opposed to the sex chromosomes. Humans have 22 pairs of autosomes and one pair of sex chromosomes (the X chromosome and the Y chromosome). Autosomes are numbered roughly in relation to their sizes. That is, Chromosome 1 has approximately 2,800 genes, while chromosome 22 has approximately 750 genes.
One of the pioneers of using DNA in genealogy is Parabon Nanolabs. Working with CeCe Moore genetic genealogy programs have been developed to assist law enforcement in solving cold cases with 30 suspect identifications to date. She didn’t start as a crime buster, in the beginning, the genetic genealogy was used to find the identity of an amnesia victim and a real mystery concerning the identity of a man thought to have been kidnapped as an infant, found as a toddler and given to the wrong parents.
A look at how DNA can help to create a regular family tree when the first couple of generations are known.
Genetic Genealogy is just the opposite, the very first person in the tree is unknown, and the tree is empty, it will be filled in by building from the oldest generations to the newest. The first step is a DNA test. The Genetic Genealogist hopes for 2nd or 3rd cousin matches but often it is 4th. The names and personal details like birth dates of living people are hidden to the public. All the information to build the tree comes from publically available databases and other public trees.
The object is to create clusters from the matches, family groups until the furthest generations are filled. When you start three generations out, it is 16 families, their children, and grandchildren. It can easily reach the 1000 person mark or more. Then the trees are built forward to current generations using publically available information like Census records, birth, marriage, death and military records. Autosomal DNA tests will also provide gender, eye and hair color as well as ethnic background. This additional profile narrows the possibilities, along with location etc.
The goal is to narrow the candidates down to one or two people who were at the right place at the right time, match gender etc. and get a DNA sample from them to confirm. In the case of the Golden State Killer, I believe it was a discarded tissue. They recently solved a 37-year-old cold case, where there was only one possible suspect. He was arrested and immediately confessed. No family members were contacted, it would be very unusual for this to happen because law enforcement can surveil the suspect until they get a sample of their DNA. Contacting relative risks the suspect being warned and running, plus the obvious privacy concerns.
So using DNA to crack a cold case puts the Genetic Genealogist on the right track, it doesn’t automatically give them the suspect without good old fashion genealogy. Finding killers this way is labor intensive and time-consuming, but it works.
Genetic Genealogy has brought hope for solving cold cases and also to the thousands of unnamed, unidentified victims of crime who need to be returned to their loved ones. There are at least 40,000 unidentified Jane and John Does. DNA Project Doe works to returned missing people to their families. They have a few more tools they use like isotope testing to determine where the unknown grew up, spent the last year of their life, etc. To make the identification every part of the forensic evidence is mined for clues. Even working with 50 year old or older DNA they have had amazing success. A few of their most memorable cases.
Anne “Annie” Marie Lehman August 19, 1971
Darlene Wilson Norcross 2015
Joseph Newton Chandler III 2001
Marcia L King April 28, 1981
This really says it best
Lyle Stevik
DDP is pleased to announce that our John Doe known as Lyle Stevik has finally been identified. The Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Office has notified his family and they are now dealing privately with their loss. They have requested that none of their names be made public. We will honor that request.
We wish to thank each and every one of our donors who helped fund the DNA testing costs for Lyle. We’d also like to thank those who have put their hearts and souls into giving Lyle his name back. We are sure you are as thrilled as we are that he has been identified, so like you, we share your disappointment that his name must now be withheld. We all want to extend our condolences, support, and compassion to his family. Those who truly care about Lyle can honor him best by respecting his family’s wishes for privacy.
We can confirm that one of his grandparents did in fact come from Rio Arriba, NM, where many of his DNA cousins’ families originated. If there is more we can share at some point, we will do so.
Unlike Buckskin girl – who was solved in 4 hours – Lyle’s case has taken hundreds of hours of hard work by a team of nearly 20 skilled and dedicated volunteers. In the end, all the DNA matches, all the trees, and all the research paid off. This took persistence, good solid genealogy and detective work.
Most of all, our success depended on the countless people who had taken direct-to-consumer DNA tests, and who had uploaded their results to GEDmatch. They weighed the risks and benefits, and happily the benefits won out. Lyle is a proof of that.
For more information, please see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyle_Stevik
These are the only cases family is notified, to confirm identities they do a DNA test.
The problems they encounter also drive innovation.
The DNA Doe Project first coordinated with the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office on the case of Alachua County John Doe (1978) in May of 2018. Since then we have made three attempts at bone extraction, but still have not obtained enough DNA for sequencing. We have decided to make this case a pilot study to determine the efficacy of amplification and enrichment for our low quantity/low-quality samples. We have therefore set up a DoeFundMe for ACJD, and matching funds are available to help defray lab costs. We may also try one more bone extraction to boost the quantity in order to give him our best shot.
If this works they will be able to identify many more unknown Does, some going back 100 years.
I hope this has given you all a good overview of how Genetic Genealogy works and how your privacy is protected. Right now they are only using Gedmatch with a much smaller database, the actual DNA test is NOT done by a consumer DNA service like Ancestry or My Heritage.
www.snackdoodleprime.com
**** Thank you so much for the rescue!! Rescue Rangers Rock