FORS 4440 - Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy

Prerequisite or co-requisite: FORS 4403. This course introduces the field of Genetic Genealogy and how it is currently applied in a forensic setting (i.e., Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy (FIGG)). Students will learn the structure and inheritance patterns of autosomal DNA and lineage markers, and how they are used to identify, verify, and connect genetically related individuals. Students will become familiar with the genetic genealogy databases used by law enforcement to identify genetic relatives of unknown perpetrators of violent crimes and unidentified human remains. Students will learn how to use various third-party tools to interpret the genetic results and the genealogical research principles for building family trees to produce investigative leads. Current laws, policies, and ethical considerations will also be covered. 3 credits.