You may have learned how DNA testing can lead to suspects being identified in cold cases and in unsolved homicides, but there's more to the practice than most know.Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.Called Investigative Genetic Genealogy, it was first used to help people who had been adopted to track down their biological parents. But now it's become one of the fastest ways to help close cases and it's being used by agencies like the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation."They can test bones, teeth, in any part of the body -- they extract the DNA," said Elizabeth Marshall, who works for Red Earth Genetic Genealogy.Investigative Genetic Genealogy is a relatively new practice, but it's helping close cases, with OSBI posting on social media that about 20 cases have undergone or are in the process of IGG."For us to get a really good match, a second cousin is great for us, because then we know our perpetrator, or unknown victim -- the match is their second cousin," Marshall said.Marshall said it starts with a sample, something like blood, and it's tested in a lab.>> Download the KOCO 5 App"Once we get the profile in the database, the database will compare all the other tests that are in there, to your particular DNA profile," Marshall said.The genealogists then take all the matches and build family trees for those matches and find a common ancestor between all the people."The person you're trying to figure out descends from that same ancestral couple," Marshall said.And that tree has leads."You start building down, and you look for people who could be in the area at the time, that sort of thing. And we'd provide leads based on the DNA matches back to the law enforcement agency," Marshall said.Marshall said the practice has been a game changer in the criminal justice world. It was used in 2018 to identify the Golden State Killer in California.For cold cases and homicides, it saves a lot of time, and it's also cost effective."For a few thousand dollars, as opposed to millions over the span of 40 years, they can get a solve," Marshall said.And all it takes is just a small sample."It used to be, you'd have to have a lot of DNA to have a DNA profile, but now, they can take DNA from a pin, a pin-point, and get a DNA profile," Marshall said.Top HeadlinesTeen injured after phone charger explodes, sparks house fire8-year-old girl takes family car, drives 25 minutes to TargetPeople looking for places to stay after 3-alarm fire sparks at northwest OKC apartment complexTIMELINE: Isolated strong storms possible Wednesday and Thursday in parts of OklahomaOklahoma WIC program switches brands of baby formula
You may have learned how DNA testing can lead to suspects being identified in cold cases and in unsolved homicides, but there's more to the practice than most know.
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.
Called Investigative Genetic Genealogy, it was first used to help people who had been adopted to track down their biological parents. But now it's become one of the fastest ways to help close cases and it's being used by agencies like the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
"They can test bones, teeth, in any part of the body -- they extract the DNA," said Elizabeth Marshall, who works for Red Earth Genetic Genealogy.
Investigative Genetic Genealogy is a relatively new practice, but it's helping close cases, with OSBI posting on social media that about 20 cases have undergone or are in the process of IGG.
"For us to get a really good match, a second cousin is great for us, because then we know our perpetrator, or unknown victim -- the match is their second cousin," Marshall said.
Marshall said it starts with a sample, something like blood, and it's tested in a lab.
>> Download the KOCO 5 App
"Once we get the profile in the database, the database will compare all the other tests that are in there, to your particular DNA profile," Marshall said.
The genealogists then take all the matches and build family trees for those matches and find a common ancestor between all the people.
"The person you're trying to figure out descends from that same ancestral couple," Marshall said.
And that tree has leads.
"You start building down, and you look for people who could be in the area at the time, that sort of thing. And we'd provide leads based on the DNA matches back to the law enforcement agency," Marshall said.
Marshall said the practice has been a game changer in the criminal justice world. It was used in 2018 to identify the Golden State Killer in California.
For cold cases and homicides, it saves a lot of time, and it's also cost effective.
"For a few thousand dollars, as opposed to millions over the span of 40 years, they can get a solve," Marshall said.
And all it takes is just a small sample.
"It used to be, you'd have to have a lot of DNA to have a DNA profile, but now, they can take DNA from a pin, a pin-point, and get a DNA profile," Marshall said.
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