dna | PBS NewsHour

COVID-19 bill would scale up ability to spot virus mutations

By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Associated Press

How a growing trove of genetic data is informing medical breakthroughs

Individualized medicine, in which treatments are customized based on a patient’s unique DNA, is a rising field. Along with an ever-expanding genetic database, it offers tantalizing promise for solving some of medicine's most daunting challenges. But individualized medicine also carries…

By Miles O'Brien

A father took an at-home DNA test. His son was then falsely accused of murder

Genetic genealogy, the technique millions of people are using to learn about their family history, has now become a potent tool with which law enforcement can solve crimes. But the method has major privacy implications that are prompting some critics…

By William Brangham, Nsikan Akpan, Rhana Natour

Michael Usry said police officers should be allowed to use the tools that they're given to catch criminals, but given his experience, he worries about the possible misuse of "powerful" DNA techniques like genetic genealogy. Photo by William Brangham

Genetic genealogy can help solve cold cases. It can also accuse the wrong person.

For law enforcement, the case for using genetic genealogy is strong. But it's not foolproof.

By Nsikan Akpan

How at-home DNA tests helped solve this 30-year-old murder

In 2019, American law enforcement agencies have identified over 70 suspects using a new technique called genetic genealogy, which California detectives leveraged in 2018 to identify the Golden State Killer. In the first of a two-part series, William Brangham shares…

By William Brangham, Rhana Natour, Nsikan Akpan

‘Jumping genes’ could help CRISPR replace disease-causing DNA, study finds

By Sharon Begley, STAT

Researchers describe combining a "jumping gene" with CRISPR enzymes to deliver a a package of DNA to precise addresses in the E. coli genome.

U.S. to give immigrants DNA tests at the border to check for fraud

By Associated Press

Immigration officials will begin voluntary DNA testing in cases where officials suspect adults are fraudulently claiming to be the parents of children as they cross the U.S.-Mexico border together.

Philippines: US DNA tests confirm death of IS-linked leader

By Jim Gomez, Associated Press

U.S. DNA tests have confirmed the death of a Muslim militant commander who helped lead the 2017 siege of a city in the southern Philippines and was considered a key leader of the Islamic State group in the region, officials…

Genetic research has a white bias, and it may be hurting everyone’s health

By Vicky Stein

Around 80,000 years ago, a small group left Africa and radiated around the globe, taking with them a subset of their ancestors' genetic variation. Now, that subset dominates genetic and health studies worldwide.