{"id":31,"date":"2022-10-17T10:25:20","date_gmt":"2022-10-17T14:25:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/igg\/?page_id=31"},"modified":"2026-07-16T10:03:40","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T14:03:40","slug":"research-and-expansion","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/igg\/research-and-expansion\/","title":{"rendered":"Research & Expansion of IGG"},"content":{"rendered":"

Our Research<\/h3>\n

Publications:<\/h4>\n

\"forensic
\n<\/strong><\/em>Forensic Genealogy: Theory & Practice<\/strong>
\n<\/em>Michael S. Ramage, JD, CG, and Catherine Becker Wiest Desmarais, CG. Contributing authors include Kelvin L. Meyers, FTxSGS; Angie Bush, David Gurney, JD, PhD; Cairenn Binder<\/strong>, and Rich Venezia. Published by the National Genealogical Society, 2025.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"forensic
\n<\/strong><\/em>The Effect of Increased Latin American Representation in Investigative Genetic Genealogy Databases on Unidentified Remains Cases
\n<\/strong><\/em>David Gurney and Cairenn Binder<\/strong>
\nPublished in Forensic Genomics<\/a>, 2024.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Predictive
\n<\/strong>Investigative and Predictive DNA Testing, Chapter 24: The Advent of Investigative Genetic Genealogy<\/strong>
\nDavid Gurney and Cairenn Binder<\/strong>
\nElsevier, Published November 2025.<\/em><\/p>\n

Projects:<\/h4>\n

Expanding the Reach of IGG to Underrepresented Populations<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

For a variety of socioeconomic reasons, the consumer genetic genealogy databases that are available for IGG searching are made up primarily of individuals of Western European heritage. This means that cases involving Western European \u201cDoes\u201d or perpetrators are more likely to be solved, while cases involving other populations often languish since it can be extremely difficult to develop leads when the closest match in a database is a 4th<\/sup>, 5th<\/sup>, 6th<\/sup>, or greater cousin.<\/p>\n

One of our goals at the IGG Center is to expand the reach of IGG to populations who are underrepresented in the databases, thus ensuring that the justice IGG can help achieve is available to members of all populations.<\/p>\n

To achieve this goal, we are beginning outreach efforts to underrepresented populations. This effort requires strict adherence to ethics \u2013 with a particular emphasis on ensuring that individuals who choose to upload their DNA profiles are fully informed of the risks and benefits.<\/p>\n

The Effect of Increased Latin American Representation in Investigative Genetic Genealogy Databases on Unidentified Remains Cases<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

This project seeks to expand the representation of people of Latin American descent in public genetic genealogy databases and track the impact of that increased representation on the resolution of investigative genetic genealogy cases involving unidentified human remains.<\/p>\n

Staff from the IGG Center traveled to Tucson, Arizona in 2023, 2024 and 2025 to distribute donated FamilyTreeDNA kits to informed, consenting adults of Latin American descent. The initial impact of the project was studied and result were published in Forensic Genomics<\/em> (link to article<\/a>). We plan to continue annual distribution of DNA kits for this project at the Tucson Festival of Books and other events.<\/p>\n

We thank Gene By Gene and FamilyTreeDNA for renewing their donation of DNA kits for this project in 2026. Our team of staff and volunteers returned to Tucson Festival of Books in March 2026 to continue distribution of DNA kits for this project.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Our Research Publications: Forensic Genealogy: Theory & Practice Michael S. Ramage, JD, CG, and Catherine Becker Wiest Desmarais, CG. Contributing authors include Kelvin L. Meyers, FTxSGS; Angie Bush, David Gurney, JD, PhD; Cairenn Binder, and Rich Venezia. Published by the National Genealogical Society, 2025. The Effect of Increased Latin American Representation in Investigative Genetic Genealogy […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":958,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page_leftCol_header.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-31","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nResearch & Expansion of IGG - Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center (IGG) || Â鶹´«Ã½ of New Jersey<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/igg\/research-and-expansion\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Research & Expansion of IGG\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Our Research Publications: Forensic Genealogy: Theory & Practice Michael S. 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