Friday, January 20, 2012

Genealogy and Crime Investigation

With genealogy being a hot new(?) hobby, many people are having their DNA samples added to online websites. These websites are supposed to take genetic markers and tell you when a relative submits their DNA sample. Then you can compare notes and find out how closely you are related.

However, a Cold Case Investigator has been taking DNA samples and submitting them to these websites. In one case, it was found that a perpetrator in a crime was related to a Colonial era family named Fuller. Because the DNA seems to be following the male line, there is a high probability that the perpetrator's name is Fuller. How many other crimes could be solved if people submitted more DNA samples in the interest of genealogy?