The need for standards and certification for investigative genetic genealogy, and a notice of action

IGG in the trenches: Results of an in-depth interview study on the practice, politics, and future of investigative genetic genealogy

“…[ 45 ] Meanwhile, an independent Investigative Genetic Genealogy Accreditation Board (IGGAB) has organized to develop professional standards, an examination process that will accredit practitioners, and an oversight mechanism to ensure compliance with standards. [ 4 , 46 ] IGGAB is encouraging jurisdictions that require licensure, now and in the future, to adopt its accreditation program as their standard for licensure. [ 46 ] If successful, this could help address one objection to mandatory licensure raised by some interviewees: the cost and burden associated with obtaining and maintaining licenses in multiple jurisdictions with different standards and requirements.…”

“…The steps of IGG are detailed in other publications. [ 4 – 7 ] Briefly, they are: (1) obtain DNA from the subject, or person whose identity is under investigation (e.g., a criminal perpetrator or unidentified decedent or living person (Doe); if the investigation is to identify a perpetrator, the DNA is collected from the crime scene or other location associated with the crime); (2) develop a profile of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from the DNA; (3) upload the SNP profile to a DTC genetic genealogy database that accepts such uploads from law enforcement (currently, the GEDmatch and FamilyTreeDNA (FTDNA) databases are the only commercial databases that accept such uploads); (4) build the subject’s family tree from the genetic relative matches generated by the database and using traditional genealogical and other sources, including public records; and (5) identify one or more leads for the subject on the family tree using relationship, case, and other information. 1…”

Recent advances in forensic biology and forensic DNA typing: INTERPOL review 2019–2022

“…Important perspectives on ethical, legal, and social issues have been offered along with directions for future research [ 109 ]. These concerns about data privacy, public trust, proficiency and agency trust, and accountability have led to a call for standards and certification of IGG to address issues raised by privacy scholars, law enforcement agencies, and traditional genealogists [ 110 , 111 ] and for an ethical and privacy assessment framework covering transparency, access criteria, quality assurance, and proportionality [ 112 ].…”

Citizen science at the roots and as the future of forensic genetic genealogy

“…Up to this point, this process has remained relatively undeveloped because forensic genetic genealogy is addressed as an investigative lead, and therefore framed as the generation of intelligence, which remains “out” of the courts, whereas only the construction evidence is debated (in this regard see Wienroth, 2020; Granja and Machado, 2020). However, this understanding is being challenged and steps toward establishing certification in forensic genetic genealogy are currently being taken (Gurney et al, 2022).…”