ForenSeq Kintelligence
Definition
A Verogen (formerly Illumina) forensic SNP genotyping kit targeting approximately 10,000 kinship-informative SNPs, designed to generate profiles compatible with consumer genealogy databases from forensic-quality degraded crime-scene samples.
- Manufacturer
- Verogen (formerly Illumina)
- Marker type
- Kinship-informative SNPs
- Approximate panel size
- About 10,000 SNPs
- Designed for
- Degraded crime-scene samples, compatibility with consumer genealogy databases
Common questions
Why does forensic genetic genealogy need a dedicated SNP kit rather than reusing standard STR profiling?+
Consumer genealogy databases are built on dense SNP arrays, not STR loci, so an STR profile cannot be searched against them. Kintelligence generates a SNP profile in a format compatible with genealogy comparison, letting a forensic sample be matched against relatives in those databases.
How does Kintelligence perform on degraded or low-quantity DNA compared to consumer at-home testing kits?+
It is specifically engineered with targeted sequencing chemistry to tolerate the fragmented, low-quantity DNA typical of crime-scene evidence, whereas standard consumer array-based kits are designed for higher-quality buccal swab or saliva samples and often fail on degraded forensic material.
Does using Kintelligence bypass the genetic privacy protections of major genealogy databases?+
No, it produces a profile format compatible for upload, but access still depends on the policies of the specific database, such as requiring opt-in for law enforcement matching, so use is governed by each platform's own terms of service and applicable law, not the kit itself.
Related terms
- Barbara Rae-Venter
- The genetic genealogist who led the family-tree reconstruction in the Golden State Killer investigation. Previously used the same technique to identify an...
- 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...
- 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;...