U.S. authorities solved the 14-year-old murder of a 14-year-old girl in Las Vegas in 1989 thanks to the use of "the smallest
The police said they were able to establishthe identity of the suspect using genome sequencing and public genealogy data. As it turned out, her killer died in 1995. “I'm glad they found my daughter's killer,” Stephanie’s mom wrote in a statement read to reporters at a press conference. "I didn't believe the case would be solved."
Killer robots: how equipment attacks without orders and who is responsible for the victims
Thirty-two years ago, Stephanie Isaacson's bodyfound near the route she usually took to her school. The police determined that she was attacked and strangled, but could not find the killer.
This year the police were able to do it againcase after a donation from one of the local residents. They submitted DNA samples left at the murder scene to Othram, a Texas genomic sequencing laboratory. She specializes in cases that have not been solved for more than 10 years.
Common consumer DNA kitsrange from 750 to 1000 nanograms per sample. These samples are uploaded to public sites specializing in pedigree or health. But crime scenes can only contain tens of nanograms of DNA. In this case, only 0.12 nanograms were available for analysis - about 15 cells.
Using databases, researchers were ableidentify the suspect's cousin. They eventually matched the DNA to Darren Roy Marchand. Marchand's DNA was also found in the archives to confirm the match. He was never convicted and committed suicide in 1995.
Read more
Shark Intestine Reveals Like Nikola Tesla's Valve
For the first time in history, 9 stars disappeared in half an hour and did not return
Physicists told what will happen if the moon approaches the Earth