What is Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG)?

• A. A method that combines genetic analysis with genealogical research to identify individuals in forensic cases.
• B. A procedure for dating skeletal remains based on DNA methylation.
• C. A database of dental records used to identify decedents.
• D. A technique for determining ancestry from skull morphology.

Answer: (A)

Investigative Genetic Genealogy is a method that combines genetic analysis with genealogical research to identify individuals in forensic cases. In practice, investigators extract DNA from evidence and generate a broad genetic profile, then search public or semi-public genealogical databases for distant relatives. By building family trees from genealogical records—birth, marriage, census data, obituaries—and integrating them with DNA relationships, they can triangulate to a specific person who matches the genetic and documentary clues, often narrowing down to a single likely identity and then confirming with additional evidence.

This approach is distinct from dating skeletal remains through DNA methylation, which relies on epigenetic marks to estimate age rather than identify a person. It’s also different from using a dental records database, which identifies individuals by comparing dental records rather than genetic information, and from skull morphology techniques that infer ancestry or characteristics from skeletal features rather than pursuing identity through genealogical linking. IGG’s unique combination of genetic data and genealogical context is what enables identification in cases where traditional databases or physical traits alone aren’t sufficient.