Category Archives: Science and Technology

DNA Testing Key to Releasing the Wrongly Imprisoned

The Innocence Project Chris Bennett is one of the many prisoners that the Innocence Project has proven innocent through the discovery of new evidence such as DNA. The Innocence Project has proven the innocence of 202 prisoners who have collectively spent nearly 2,500 years in prison for crimes they did not commit. The Innocence Project…

DNA Biology

DNA, also known as deoxyribonucleic acid, is a fundamental molecule found in all living things. It serves as the basis for heredity, specifying which traits are passed on from parents to children through the generations. It also contains instructions for our body cells to perform their specific functions. Structure In humans, most of the DNA…

Staff Publications

How DNA Testing Has Changed

1920s – Blood Typing In the early 1900s, scientists identified 4 different blood types in humans – A, AB, B, and O – based on the presence of certain proteins called antigens in the blood. This blood typing system, called the ABO system, provided doctors with crucial information about their patients, allowing them to safely…

DDC’s Laboratory Tour and Process Overview

What do I do with the results of the DNA test?

The results of your ancestral DNA tests can be used in a few different ways. Of course, the test will verify biological relationships you uncovered in your research. After DNA testing you will know that you are (or are not), in fact, biologically related to the family member that you have located. The results of…

History of DNA Testing

DNA testing is a powerful tool for identification. With today’s technology, DNA tests can now identify individuals with almost 100% certainty. Identification has not always been this conclusive. Before DNA tests, the science community used other biological tools to identify people and determine relationships. These techniques, which included blood typing, serological testing, and HLA testing,…

I have located my lost family members. How can DNA tests help?

Once you have located unknown family members, wouldn’t you like to know if you are, in fact, biologically related to them? People researching their family tree spend large amounts of time and money during their research. Wouldn’t you like to know if the results you find are accurate? A DNA test can give you that…