Problem
In 2018, police used a public DNA database to help identify the "Golden State Killer" by uploading a DNA profile obtained from a crime scene and searching for potential relatives of the perpetrator. I've attached an article for you to read that discusses the case. This case provides an interesting start point for a wider discussion about the rapid growth in "direct to customer" DNA profiling. Several companies now offer DNA tests that, at least claim to be able to, identify people's ancestry or risks of developing various medical conditions.
I would like you to discuss some of the implications of the rapid growth in private individuals having having their DNA analyzed and the results being stored in private or public databases. Some question you can consider are:
• How accurate are the results of these tests?
• What are the potential benefits of more and more people having their DNA profiled and databased?
• What are some of the potential problems?
The Golden State Killer investigation and the nascent field of forensic genealogy.