Barbara Rae-Venter
Definition
The genetic genealogist who led the family-tree reconstruction in the Golden State Killer investigation. Previously used the same technique to identify an unidentified homicide victim (Baby Jane Doe) in 2017, demonstrating the technique's value in both suspect-identification and victim-identification contexts.
Related terms
- Centimorgans (cM)
- The unit of genetic map distance used to measure shared DNA between individuals. A first-degree relative shares approximately 2,550 cM; a third...
- CODIS
- The FBI's Combined DNA Index System, the US national STR-based forensic DNA database. Contains profiles from convicted offenders, arrestees, and unidentified crime-scene...
- ForenSeq Kintelligence
- A Verogen (formerly Illumina) forensic SNP genotyping kit targeting approximately 10,000 kinship-informative SNPs, designed to generate profiles compatible with consumer genealogy databases...
- GEDmatch
- A consumer genealogy database founded in 2010, used in the Golden State Killer investigation. Changed from opt-out to opt-in for law-enforcement access...
- Genetic Genealogist
- A specialist who combines DNA match data with traditional genealogical record research to reconstruct family trees. In forensic IGG casework, the genetic...
- Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG)
- A forensic identification technique that uploads a crime-scene DNA profile to a consumer genealogy database, identifies partial matches suggesting distant family relationships,...
- Opt-in Policy
- The GEDmatch policy adopted in May 2019 requiring database users to affirmatively consent for their profile to be visible in law-enforcement queries,...
- Parabon NanoLabs
- A US company that became the primary commercial provider of forensic IGG casework following the Golden State Killer case, offering the Snapshot...
- Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP)
- A position in the genome where a single nucleotide varies between individuals. Consumer DTC genomic tests genotype hundreds of thousands of SNPs;...
Explained in
- DTC Genealogy: The Golden State Killer Paradigm and GEDmatch PolicyThe genetic genealogist who led the family-tree reconstruction in the Golden State Killer investigation. Previously used the same technique to identify an unid...