DNAprint Genomics (DNAG)

[mingwan0]

The Netherlands

It's a country in Western Europe that should have won the 1974 football World Cup, but that's not important right now...

http://www.dnaprint.com/2003/pressreleases/pr_11_20_03.htm

DNAPrint(TM) Announces Forensic Eye Color Results at Amsterdam Forensic Meeting

World's First Genomics-Derived Test For Forensics Investigation With Predictive Capabilities

SARASOTA, Fla., Nov. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- DNAPrint(TM) genomics, Inc. ("DNAPrint(TM)") announced progress yesterday in developing anthropomorphic genomics testing products to an audience of approximately 500 forensic scientists and detectives at the "DNA ... sporen naar de toekomst II" conference sponsored by the Netherlands Forensic Institute...

From December 2003:

http://www.geneyous.nl/symposium/lecture2.html

Dr. Peter de Knijff (1956) was trained as a medical microbiology technician and clinical chemistry technician. He received his PhD from the Medical Faculty of Leiden University in 1992. Since 1994 he is head of the Forensic Laboratory for DNA Research, the only independent DNA contra-expertise laboratory in the Netherlands. This lab is part of the Department of Human Genetics, Center of Human and Clinical Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center. The FLDO is one of leading laboratories in the introduction of genetic markers from the human Y-chromosome. For this work he is the joint recipient (together with L Roewer and M Kayser) of the Konrad Händel price, awarded by the Deutschen Gesellschaft fur Rechtsmedizin, Hannover, 16 September 1998. His current research interests aim for a better understanding of population genetics and evolutionary genetics. Apart from teaching responsibilities in these two fields, he is also very active in various teaching courses relating to the forensic application and interpretation of DNA analyses. He has published well over 120 peer-reviewed articles many articles in the Dutch language on the topic of forensic DNA research in popular and semi-scientific journals.

The understanding of fundamental population genetics and evolutionary genetics is rapidly growing, mainly through the development of new large-scale genotyping methods. These techniques could ultimately facilitate the rapid detection of genome-wide genetic differences among human populations. One of the exciting applications would be in the field of forensic research, where the development of a set of markers by means of which predictions concerning external characteristics of an individual could be made (colour of hair, skin, eye, etc.), would possibly facilitate the tracing of offenders. Also predictions about the geographical origins of an individual could be possible once reliable markers have been found. In the lecture, both technical and ethical issues will be covered.

Here is just one connection. Apart from forensics, Pete the Knife and his colleagues also collaborate with George Vogler:

Beekman M, Posthuma D, Heijmans BT, Lakenberg N, Suchiman HE, Snieder H, De Knijff P, Frants RR, Van Ommen GJ, Kluft C, Vogler GP, Slagboom PE, Boomsma DI. Combined association and linkage analysis applied to the APOE locus. Genet Epidemiol. 2004 May;26(4):328-37.

Beekman, M. , B.T. Heijmans , N.G. Martin , J.B. Whitfield , N.L. Pedersen , U. DeFaire , H. Snieder , N. Lakenberg , H.D. Suchiman , P. de Knijff , R.R. Frants , G.B. van Ommen , C.C. Kluft , G.P. Vogler , D.I. Boomsma and P.E. Slagboom (2003). "Evidence for a Qtl on Chromosome 19 Influencing Ldl Cholesterol Levels in the General Population." European Journal of Human Genetics 11(11):845-850.

Beekman, M. , N. Lakenberg , S.S. Cherny , P. de Knijff , C.C. Kluft , G.B. van Ommen , G.P. Vogler , R.R. Frants , D.I. Boomsma and P.E. Slagboom (2001). "A Powerful and Rapid Approach to Genome Scanning Using Small Quantities of Genomic DNA." Genetical Research 77:129-134.

George is Professor of Biobehavioral Health and Director, Center for Developmental and Health Genetics at PSU and his research interests are: Genetic epidemiology of complex traits; quantitative trait loci mapping; cardiovascular disease; methodological issues in genetic models and structural equation models; behavioral moderation of expression of biological traits.

http://athens.pop.psu.edu/CtrPRI/DirBio.cfm?PeopleID=57

George has co-authored 15 papers with DC Rao, the (former?) DNAP Scientific Advisor; and 3 with JR Fernandez, the current Shriver collaborator.

A couple of names to look out for.