Genetic Drift in San Francisco Garter Snakes

 

        San Francisco garter snakes are found along California's southern coast and live in aquatic and upland environments. The population has recently experienced significant habitat loss due to urban development and groups within the population have become isolated from one another. The isolated populations have generated cause for concern among conservationists due to the possibility of genetic drift. Genetic drift is the loss or disappearance of genes within a population, reducing genetic diversity overall. To determine if genetic drift is occurring in San Francisco garter snake populations researchers obtained small tissue samples from individuals in geographically isolated populations for genetic analysis. 

        Researchers used the tissue samples to quantify the DNA and establish the number of genes, compared loci, and determine the sex of the individuals. The DNA was then compared with individuals from other geographic sites. Researchers determined that the populations were experiencing significant genetic erosion due to their isolation. This genetic drift is crucial for conservationists moving forward since the species is currently endangered. The study published in 2020 determined that the populations were experiencing genetic drift, it would certainly be interesting to redo this study to determine if the genetic drift is increasing and what conservation efforts would be most beneficial. 

Rapid DNA Analysis Steps In to Identify Remains of Wildfire Victims

The savage out of control fire that tore through in excess of 240 square miles of northern California this month and obliterated the town of Paradise medium-term has decreased, yet the solemn procedure of distinguishing the individuals who died is as yet progressing.

For as long as three weeks, around 10,000 people have been engaged with the look for human stays in the several sections of land of pulverization—among them firefighters, dead body pooches, inquiry and save groups, and anthropologists from adjacent colleges, as per Megan McMann, people group relations facilitator at the Butte County Sheriff's Office. Up until this point, the loss of life remains at 88, however almost 200 individuals stay absent starting yesterday (November 28) and hunt teams are never again effectively searching for stays, as per USA Today.

The undertaking currently tumbles to distinguishing the remaining parts that have been gathered. Fingerprinting is generally the main alternative, by which recognizable pieces of proof can be made effortlessly through existing databases, for example, the FBI's unique mark database. Something else, specialists can make X-beams from teeth and recognize people by contrasting these and dental specialists' records. In any case, following those records down can be testing, and some have raised the worry that the records of Paradise occupants were devastated in the fire.

On the off chance that fingerprints and dental records come up short or if the remaining parts are excessively harmed, DNA testing is the subsequent stage. Normally, it would take a long time to send tests to a lab and lead the investigation, however a Colorado-based organization called ANDE has ventured in to help with the exertion in California. The organization, which normally works with the US military and the FBI, spends significant time in quick DNA examination. Since November 12, a group of 20 workers has set up camp at the coroner's office in Sacramento to run DNA tests on tests rapidly spreading fire specialists acquire. It takes under two hours to get a read out.




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The Golden State Killer: Caught with Genealogy Website DNA Data

72 year old former cop arrested in Golden State Killer case.

This past week a true monster was caught by California Police: The Golden State Killer. Committing over 50 rapes and 12 murders between the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, the Golden State Killer eluded police for decades. Until this past week. 72 year old Joseph James DeAngelo was arrested for these crimes after using DNA technology to produce  match to him. But what kind of DNA technology was used? An online genealogy database called GEDmatch. Apparently the investigators on the case had used some stored DNA from the crime scenes, and uploaded the DNA profile to the GEDmatch database. From this, they located distant relatives to the DNA sample, found a man that would fit the profile of the Golden State Killer within the family, and eventually made a match to DeAngelo which resulted in his arrest. How did they make this final match, you might ask? They used "abandoned DNA... [left] in a place that is a public domain" according to Anne Marie Schubert, the Sacramento, CA district attorney.

According to the GEDmatch policy, any DNA profile that is uploaded to the site can be viewed, searched and compared by any other GEDmatch members. They also state "we cannot guarantee that your information will never be accessed by unintended means". There are options to have your DNA set to private, public, and research, however the company states that if you require absolute guaranteed security to these settings it is best to either delete your data, or not to upload the sample at all.

I think that this specific use of a genealogy website is ground breaking in the Golden State Killer case which laid cold for decades. However, it also presents the ethical dilemma of the police access to public and unwarranted DNA profile information. I think this topic is very prevalent in today's society, especially with the current fad of using sites like GEDmatch, 23andMe, and AncestryDNA. I am curious to see how this evidence plays out in the courts for this case.