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Arts Feb 28

‘Inheritance’ is our March book club pick

By Courtney Vinopal

Science Nov 07

Watch 6:47
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

Science Nov 07

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

Nation Mar 12

Years-old rape kits are being tested around U.S. with help from Manhattan DA, DOJ

Languishing evidence in over 100,000 sexual assault cases around the country has been sent for DNA testing with money from a New York prosecutor and federal authorities, spurring over 1,000 arrests and hundreds of convictions in three years, officials say.

By Jennifer Peltz, Associated Press

Arts Feb 04

Watch 3:12
Author Dani Shapiro on the power and danger of family secrets

After taking a DNA test on a whim, author Dani Shapiro discovered that her beloved late father had not been, in fact, her biological parent. She had been conceived using a sperm donor, and as was common at the time,…

Oct 16

Cherokee Nation says Warren is ‘undermining tribal interests’ with DNA test

By Associated Press

A Cherokee Nation official said Monday that DNA tests are useless to determine tribal citizenship.

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Jun 30

Watch
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Ore. Discovery Challenges Beliefs About First Humans

Until recently, most scientists believed that the first humans came to the Americas 13,000 years ago. But new archaeological findings from a cave in Oregon are challenging that assumption. Lee Hochberg of Oregon Public Television reports on the controversial discovery.

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Full Episode
Wednesday, Apr 21

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