NCJ Number
209424
Journal
Police: The Law Enforcement Magazine Volume: 29 Issue: 3 Dated: March 2005 Pages: 36,38,40
Date Published
March 2005
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article describes the innovative DNA technology, DNA Witness; a powerful investigative tool to help investigators save valuable time by narrowing their search to the individuals/suspects likely to have committed the crime.
Abstract
One of the toughest jobs of a criminal investigator is narrowing the field of potential suspects. However, DNAPrint Genomics has developed a new technology which provides investigators with a way to quickly eliminate entire populations of possible suspects. DNAWitness, introduced to the forensic community in 2003, allows the use of DNA evidence to learn the physical characteristics and basic appearance of a suspect even when the DNA cannot be matched to a specific individual in the CODIS database. Certain individuals can be either included or excluded from an investigation based on their ancestory. With the success of DNAWitness, DNAPrint Genomics is expanding its DNAWitness to include additional population groups for bio-geographical testing, as well as broaden the focus of the technology. DNAWitness is seen as the first predictive forensic DNA test in the world. This article presents an overview of this new technology helping investigators narrow their investigative focus.