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DNA has been an important tool in forensic science since the mid-1980s, based on work by Dr. Alec Jeffreys demonstrating how DNA typing could be used to identify specific individuals. Forensic geneticists work primarily in medical or crime laboratories, where they use genetic samples to help identify crime victims and perpetrators, or family relationships. Forensic geneticists also assist federal and local authorities in victim identification, both in crime situations and following disasters. Qualifications for a Forensic Geneticist To become a forensic scientist, you need at least a bachelor's degree in one of the physical sciences, with heavy emphasis on chemistry and biology. To specialize as a forensic geneticist, you need a master's degree in genetics to advance beyond a lab assistant role. Beyond these basic education requirements, a forensic geneticist should build experience in a forensics or medical lab. Forensics scientists in all fields are expected to continue their education with specialized training throughout their careers, according to the American Association of Forensic Scientists. Forensic geneticists can take an exam and become certified in a specific field; those working exclusively in criminal investigations, for example, can earn certification from the American Board of Criminalistics. Criminal Investigations Forensic geneticists often find a home in the crime lab, though most work in conditions far removed from the glamour displayed on TV crime shows. They work with other scientists to help identify evidence and solve crimes, under the umbrella category of “criminalist.“ The main role of the criminalist, according to the AAFS, is “to objectively apply the techniques of the physical and natural sciences to examine physical evidence.“ Specifically, forensic geneticists examine traces of physical evidence from crime scenes and apply their knowledge of DNA to link suspects to crime scenes — or sometimes rule them out. They also help identify crime victims when traditional methods, such as fingerprint matching, prove inadequate. Related Reading: Salary of Doctorate of Forensic Chemistry Victim Identification Forensic geneticists often have a role in victim identification following natural disasters, tragedies such as plane crashes, and man-made disasters such as terrorist attacks or genocide. The skills involved in disaster victim identification are very similar to those forensic geneticists use in the crime lab, so the scientists are often part of local or national disaster response plans. In the United States, a forensic geneticist may be part of a Disaster Mortuary Operations Response Team, or DMORT, helping identify victims following a major disaster such as Hurricane Katrina. They may also work with international organizations, such as the United Nations or Red Cross, to examine evidence and identify victims in investigations of human rights abuses or genocide. Expert Testimony Not all forensic geneticists limit their work to the laboratory. In addition to examining crime scene evidence, they may be called upon to provide expert testimony in legal proceedings. In such cases, forensic geneticists must demonstrate they have the qualifications to be considered an expert witness, including extensive education and experience in the field, membership in related professional organizations and having published professional books or articles. Their challenge is to present compelling genetic evidence with authority, by explaining often complex and intricate scientific procedures and information in terms non-scientists — jurors, lawyers and judges — can understand. #DNA #DNATyping #geneticists #ForensicGeneticist #AmericanAssociationOfForensicScientists #Genetics #DNAFingerprinting
