In an interview with our Liz Kitz, Puma County Sheriff Chris Nanos says he might be deploying genetic genealogy, which compares DNA extracted from a crime scene to DNA databases, using familial matches to narrow down the search. In the case of the unknown DNA found inside Nancy Guthri's home, the sheriff says the DNA samples are mixed. And because of that, genealogologists say the process could be more complicated.Genealogy is really good with low-level DNA, degraded DNA, but it's not good with mixtures. Th ...

Tonight, law enforcement hoping a key tool will help them find Nancy Guthrie. >> We believe that we may have some DNA there that may be our suspect, but we won't know that until that DNA is separated, sorted out. In an interview with our Liz Kitz, Puma County Sheriff Chris Nanos says he might be deploying genetic genealogy, which compares DNA extracted from a crime scene to DNA databases, using familial matches to narrow down the search.In the case of the unknown DNA found inside Nancy Guthri's home, the sh ...

Tonight, as investigators zero in on the unknown DNA found at Nancy Guthri's home, NBC News is learning more about how they're also canvasing gun stores across Tucson, trying to identify the armed suspect. Owners of two different gun shops tell us investigators came to their store with a list of names three to four pages long, including photos of potential people of interest. This is one of those stores.The owner tells us he didn't recognize or sell a gun to anyone on that list. The other owner tells us on ...

Core Viewpoint - The announcement of 23andMe filing for bankruptcy and selling its genetic genealogy database has raised privacy concerns among its customers, prompting legal alerts regarding data deletion [1][2]. Company Overview - 23andMe, founded in 2006 by Anne Wojcicki, was the first to market direct-to-consumer genetic testing in North America, aiming to provide consumers with health information directly [6]. - The company initially thrived by capitalizing on the growing interest in genealogy and health data, but faced significant challenges, including a major data breach in 2023 that compromised the personal information of approximately 5.5 million users [12][13]. Industry Context - The consumer genetic testing industry has seen a decline in sales due to privacy concerns and market saturation, with a notable drop in demand for genetic genealogy kits over the past five years [9]. - Law enforcement's use of genetic genealogy databases has heightened consumer awareness of potential third-party data usage, leading to increased scrutiny and calls for regulatory measures [10][11]. Financial and Corporate Developments - 23andMe has expanded its operations by acquiring health services and pharmaceutical companies, but its financial stability has been jeopardized by recent events, including the bankruptcy filing [12]. - Potential buyers for 23andMe's database include large pharmaceutical companies, international buyers, and tech firms like Google and Ancestry.com, which could significantly reshape the landscape of genetic data ownership [15][16]. Privacy and Regulatory Issues - The sale of genetic databases raises concerns about changing privacy provisions, with customers uncertain about the long-term protection of their data [18]. - The rapid growth of the direct-to-consumer genetics industry has outpaced regulatory frameworks, leaving consumers vulnerable and anxious about their personal data [19].