Citizen science at the roots and as the future of forensic genetic genealogy
| Published date | 01 September 2023 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/14613557231164901 |
| Author | Rafaela Granja |
| Date | 01 September 2023 |
| Subject Matter | Special Issue: Technology in Policing |
Citizen science at the roots and as the
future of forensic genetic genealogy
Rafaela Granja
University of Minho, Portugal
Abstract
Forensic genetic genealogy is an emergent forensic technology that employs databases used by citizens to upload genetic
data voluntarily to search for criminal suspects and/or unidentified individuals. Considering a wide view of the roots of
forensic genetic genealogy, in this article, I draw on publicly available interviews with key stakeholders in the field,
media articles, and companies’statements to analyze how this technology is both grounded and based upon citizen sci-
ence. That is, a type of science to which citizens actively, voluntarily, and consentingly contribute in various forms. On the
one hand, I show how the emergence of forensic genetic genealogy is mainly based upon the work of individuals with a
personal interest in genetic genealogy, who are heavily invested in constructing their own and others ’family trees. That is,
citizens from various educational backgrounds and professional activities who became an untapped source of valuable
expertise for forensic science because of their prolific experience in conducting genetic genealogy. On the other
hand, I argue that the current situation of forensic genetic genealogy is also highly dependent on citizens’interest and
willingness to upload genetic data into publicly accessible genealogy databases and voluntarily deciding to make them avail-
able to law enforcement searches. Perceiving citizen science as being at the roots and as the future of forensic genetic
genealogy has important implications for the forensic epistemic culture and the protection of citizens’rights that must
be considered in the development and implementation of such technology.
Keywords
Citizen science, forensic, genetic genealogy, DNA databases, expertise
Submitted 7 Dec 2022, Revise received 15 Feb 2023, accepted 6 Mar 2023
Introduction
On 28 April 1981, the body of a young woman who had
been strangled and beaten was found alongside a road in
Ohio, USA. Her case became known as Miami County
Jane Doe, aka “Buckskin Girl”, because of the buckskin
poncho she was wearing. Her estimated age was between
18 and 27 years and she had died one or two days before
being discovered.
1
At the time, police officers and other
forensic experts recovered and preserved her clothing
and other physical evidence, including a sample of her
blood. Without viable leads, the investigation into the
identity of Buckskin Girl gradually became a cold case
for 36 years.
Over time, as several innovative forensic technologies
became available, the case continued to be pursued, but
despite such attempts, her identity remained unknown. A
breakthrough in the case came on 10 April 2019, when it
was announced that, together with the Miami County
Sheriff’sOffice and the Miami County Cor oner’sOffice,
the DNA Doe Project was able to identify Buckskin Girl as
Marcia L. King. The DNA Doe Project is a volunteer-based
organization founded in 2017 to identify humanremains and
individuals using genetic genealogy.
2
ADNAprofile
obtained from the blood sample stored in 1981 “was pro-
cessed using advanced DNA techniques and uploaded to a
Corresponding author:
Rafaela Granja, Communication and Society Research Centre (CECS),
University of Minho, Portugal.
Email: r.granja@ics.uminho.pt
Special Issue: Technology in Policing
International Journal of
Police Science & Management
2023, Vol. 25(3) 250–261
© The Author(s) 2023
Article reuse guidelines:
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DOI: 10.1177/14613557231164901
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