Suzanna Ryan, 2009 Feb 17, Suzanna Ryan

Over the last few months, this column has discussed the concept of analyzing DNA that is found in trace amounts. This could be from touched or handled items, or DNA that has been transferred to an item...

Suzanna Ryan, 2009 Jan 20, Suzanna Ryan

Imagine the following scenario—as you are exiting your local bank, a man you do not recognize stops you with a hearty "hello" and a handshake. Soon, the man realizes he has mistaken you for someone else...

Suzanna Ryan, 2008 Dec 16, Suzanna Ryan

"The probability of randomly selecting an unrelated individual with this DNA profile is 1 in 9.2 quadrillion." Similar statements are heard daily in courtrooms across the country. To most judges and juries...

Suzanna Ryan, 2008 Nov 20, Suzanna Ryan

MiniSTRs are basically a miniaturized version of the traditional STRs (Short Tandem Repeats) that are used by every forensic lab in the country. They incorporate the same loci, or locations, on the DNA...

Suzanna Ryan, 2008 Oct 21, Suzanna Ryan

Imagine this scenario--you are involved in the investigation of a high-profile serial rape case and you are lucky enough to have a DNA profile taken from the victims' bodies. The DNA profile links all...

Suzanna Ryan, 2008 Sept 16, Suzanna Ryan

Y Chromosome DNA testing, otherwise known as Y-STR testing or typing, is one of the newer DNA technologies that many police agencies and criminal investigators may not be aware of. Even though commercial...

Suzanna Ryan, 2008 Aug 19, Suzanna Ryan

According to the U.S. Department of Justice's National Crime Victimization Survey, there were 272,350 sexual assaults in 2006 (the latest data available). The Rape Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN)...

Suzanna Ryan, 2008 Jul 15, Suzanna Ryan

Nearly every police department in the country, whether large or small, has a stockpile of cases that have remained unsolved for a number of years and have eventually gone cold. Some departments are fortunate...