A portion of DNA WITNESS case release: (6/06)
"DNAWitness™ Used to Guide the Investigation of the '97 rape and murder of Susannah Chase
DNAPrint genomics (OTCBB: DNAP) of Sarasota, FL confirmed that its DNAWitness™ test was strategically employed in an investigation by the Boulder, Colorado Police Department.
Susannah Chase, 23 was brutally beaten and raped in December of 1997. Her body, as well as a DNA specimen, was found several days later.
A representative of the Boulder Police Department has stated, "DNAPrint reported that the DNA investigators submitted is indicative of someone exhibiting features that are common to Hispanics or Native Americans. This information will assist detectives with prioritizing tips and possibly generate more investigative leads."
DNA is commonly left at crime scenes, but until DNAPrint™ developed DNAWitness™, no ancestral or physical information could be reliably read from that DNA (other than gender). The genetic heritage of an individual cannot be accurately inferred from standard DNA tests. DNAWitness™ is powered by 175 of the human genome's best Ancestry Informative Markers (AIMs) and measures an individual's ancestry admixture from his or her DNA. From simulations and direct observations, it is known that DNAWitness results are precise to within a few percent, depending on the type of admixture present.
Standard DNA testing provides a unique identifier from the crime scene DNA, but in this case, the crime scene DNA did not match any of the profiles in the FBI's CODIS database, making the identification of the suspect impossible at this time. Detectives continued their quest to learn about the donor of the DNA at the crime scene and their search led investigators to DNAPrint genomics™, which is the first and so far only company able to offer this new type of DNA analysis. The test was applied by investigators to infer physical information about the suspect from the crime scene DNA, allowing them to focus precious investigative resources on high value leads related to the crime.
Forensic validation studies of DNAWitness™ have been performed by the San Diego Police Department Crime Lab, the National Center for Forensic Science and the Broward County Crime Lab. In July, 2003, a report in the Journal of Forensic Science provided the scientific rationale and results of studies related to DNAWitness™, and the test has since been covered by Popular Science, US News and World Report, the New York Times, and national ABC and CBS news programs. DNAPrint genomics ™ has successfully determined the ancestral background of over 5,000 individuals."
Ann
AI
