Forensic DNA phenotyping in Europe: views “on the ground” from those who have a professional stake in the technology
Forensic DNA phenotyping in Europe: views “on the ground” from those who have a professional stake in the technology
Forensic DNA phenotyping (FDP) is an emerging technology that seeks to make probabilistic inferences regarding a person’s observable characteristics (“phenotype”) from DNA. The aim is to aid criminal investigations by helping to identify unknown suspected perpetrators, or to help with non-criminal missing persons cases. Here we provide results from the analysis of 36 interviews with those who have a professional stake in FDP, including forensic scientists, police officers, lawyers, government agencies and social scientists. Located in eight EU countries, these individuals were asked for their views on the benefits and problems associated with the prospective use of FDP. While all interviewees distinguished between those phenotypic tests perceived to either raise ethical, social or political concerns from those tests viewed as less ethically and socially problematic, there was wide variation regarding the criteria they used to make this distinction. We discuss the implications of this in terms of responsible technology development.
ancestry testing, ethics, European Union (EU), Forensic DNA phenotyping, forensics, genetic testing, regulation
119-141
Samuel, Gabrielle
66af6213-08de-4c0e-92c1-12083ec456e3
Prainsack, Barbara
8997c43a-6d8b-454f-92b3-62f1b16b2291
2019
Samuel, Gabrielle
66af6213-08de-4c0e-92c1-12083ec456e3
Prainsack, Barbara
8997c43a-6d8b-454f-92b3-62f1b16b2291
Samuel, Gabrielle and Prainsack, Barbara
(2019)
Forensic DNA phenotyping in Europe: views “on the ground” from those who have a professional stake in the technology.
New Genetics and Society, 38 (2), .
(doi:10.1080/14636778.2018.1549984).
Abstract
Forensic DNA phenotyping (FDP) is an emerging technology that seeks to make probabilistic inferences regarding a person’s observable characteristics (“phenotype”) from DNA. The aim is to aid criminal investigations by helping to identify unknown suspected perpetrators, or to help with non-criminal missing persons cases. Here we provide results from the analysis of 36 interviews with those who have a professional stake in FDP, including forensic scientists, police officers, lawyers, government agencies and social scientists. Located in eight EU countries, these individuals were asked for their views on the benefits and problems associated with the prospective use of FDP. While all interviewees distinguished between those phenotypic tests perceived to either raise ethical, social or political concerns from those tests viewed as less ethically and socially problematic, there was wide variation regarding the criteria they used to make this distinction. We discuss the implications of this in terms of responsible technology development.
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Accepted/In Press date: 29 October 2018
e-pub ahead of print date: 29 November 2018
Published date: 2019
Keywords:
ancestry testing, ethics, European Union (EU), Forensic DNA phenotyping, forensics, genetic testing, regulation
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Local EPrints ID: 451223
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/451223
ISSN: 1463-6778
PURE UUID: b52c887d-86bb-4e2f-ab99-489d7f8c3297
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Date deposited: 14 Sep 2021 18:16
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 10:28
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Author:
Barbara Prainsack
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