I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Dr. Lori Boies and Mrs. Duesterhoeft for their guidance and support throughout the process and direction in the early stages of this research project. I am also grateful for my classmates, and colleagues for their thoughtful feedback on my work. I would also like to acknowledge my family for their encouragement and understanding throughout this project. Their patience and support have been a constant source of motivation.
October 31, 2023
Kinship Analysis in Forensic Science
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Destiny O'Keefe
I was born and raised in Southern California in the Aerospace Valley. Upon graduation in Spring 2024, receiving my bachelor's degree in Forensic Science with an emphasis in Biology, I plan to continue my education pursuing a Masters degree in Genetic Counseling.
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23 comments
Olivia
It is great to see another aspect of how advancements in technology have benefitted humanity. I like how your infographic emphasized the number of cases that were solved, 500 families and friends now have closure as to what happened to their loved one because of this development. I was curious as to what the HLA system of white blood cells means, a description of that would have been nice, but overall, the information was well organized, and I love how you included a specific case of when kinship analysis solved a crime.
aortega28
Hi Destiny, your infographic was fascinating. Knowing how genetics/Kinship analysis works with forensic science was interesting. I like how you include a case study to show how the Kinship analysis works to solve crime. It shows how over time technology continues to grow and it can make it easier and faster to solve different cases. I like how you include visuals to show the emphasis on Kinship analysis has been such a key tool in solving cases.
sphipps1
As someone who is currently taking Genetic Principles, and as someone who has always had a big interest in forensic science, I found your infographic to be so interesting! I was not aware of Kinship Analysis or what it consisted of but your graphic allowed me to learn and understand it quickly. A specific detail that caught my eye was the information surrounding “The Boy in a Box”, I actually remember reading about that case and watching several videos on it and it was nice to know that genetics has helped close that case. Excellent job!
kmolina2
Very interesting infographic! I admired the overlap of the forensic science and biology/genetic aspects for the greater good. The use of “The Boy in the Box” case was a great touch. It is amazing to see how far we have come to use techniques such as Kinship analysis to serve justice where it is needed. However, I am curious to know how ethical issues will arise and/or be addressed with this technique. Specifically the issues of privacy, consent, and possible emotional consequences.
jvillarreal68
Hi Density! Your infographic is very informative and insightful on kinship tests. As a forensic science major, I found it interesting on your research. Personally, I have done some research on genetic genealogy, but you provided information that I did not know. After reading your infographic, I feel like I am very knowledgeable about the relationship between genealogy and biology.
khernandez40
Hi Destiny, I enjoyed reading your Kinship analysis infographic. I have always had a love for forensic science however I was unaware of Kinship analysis. It is very well organized, thorough, and concise which helped the information be delivered fluidly. Additionally, I enjoyed seeing the pedigree such that it is a familiar diagram and visuals that are presented in each section.
Lizana
Hi Destiny,
I absolutely loved your infographic! Not only were the visuals great but I found your infographic very educational and informative. I have heard of kinship analysis before, but I was not aware of the details of it. It is so fascinating that STR markers can be traced back up to five generations, which I am sure has played a huge role in solving cases. I also really liked how you included the “boy in the box” story at the end; it really tied everything together and gave a real-life example of how kinship analysis is being used to solve cases
awojnar
Your infographic was very intriguing, as soon as I read the first paragraph I was hooked. At first, I was not sure what kinship analysis entailed but the more I read the more interesting it was. The fact that it has been estimated that over 500 murders and rapes have been solved due to this development is mind blowing. I also enjoyed the way you layered each part of the infographic as well as the font choice. The color choice of the whole infographic just draws you into the subject more, very well done.
Mario Ramirez
Awesome infographic! This is definitely a positive technological development that has helped many people, both living and otherwise, find peace and justice. I’ve also heard about this being applied in cases where tourists have impregnated people overseas and avoided parental responsibility. While I do think you could have used a bit more color, the overall graphic is very well made and easy to follow!
Andrea Paredes
Cool infographic! I’ve been aware of kinship analysis for some time now, and I think that it’s a great way to solve these kinds of cases. However, I understand that there are some ethical issues with genetic information being accessible to government bodies if I’m not mistaken. Maybe next time you can include some of the cons that go with kinship analysis to provide a wholistic review of this type of analysis. Great work!