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New Rule Allows Use Of Partial DNA Matches

Publication Date: January 25, 2010
Source: The New York Times

Professor Hank Greely weighed in on a new rule that allows partial DNA matches to pursue suspects using a family's shared genetic traits:

New York has become the latest of a handful of jurisdictions to permit a controversial use of DNA evidence that gives law enforcement authorities a sophisticated means to track down criminals.

Under a state rule approved in December, DNA found at a crime scene that does not exactly match that of someone in the state’s DNA database can still be used to pursue suspects if the DNA closely resembles that of someone on file.

Since family members share genetic traits, a partial DNA match allows investigators to narrow searches to relatives of people whose DNA is already in the state database, forensic experts say.

...

“I’m not sure how meaningful it is to say, ‘You can’t do this search just for the partial match,’ ” said Hank Greely, a professor at Stanford Law School who has studied the use of partial DNA evidence. “You can always say you’re looking for a perfect match.”

Still, Mr. Greely said he believes that partial matching, while not perfect, is less harmful than its opponents say.

“Let’s say you find a convict who’s a partial match. And you find a brother who lives in the area where a crime was committed,” he said. “Now the brother has been put through the unpleasant experience about being involved in a possible crime, but the test will say conclusively whether or not he did it.”

Of course, Mr. Greely added, that does not “underestimate the unpleasantness of being a suspect — even if it is only briefly.”

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Overview

The Center for Law and the Biosciences, directed by Professor Hank Greely, examines biotech discoveries in the context of the law, weighing their impact on society and the law's role in shaping that impact. The Center is part of the Stanford Program in Law, Science & Technology.

Situated in the locus of the world's biotechnology industry, within a preeminent research university, the Center convenes a forum of academicians, lawyers, scientists, policy makers, and law students. Through conferences, workshops, lectures, and academic courses, the Center promotes research and public discourse on the ethical, legal, scientific, economic, and social implications of accelerated technological change.

For law students, the Center strengthens the already significant advantages of studying at Stanford with a curriculum that combines legal theory with practical applications in biotechnology. Past course offerings have included: "Biotechnology Law and Policy," "Health Law and Policy," "Genetics and Law," and a course on nanotechnology called "Ideas v. Matter: The Law in Tiny Spaces." In addition, the school offers a full complement of courses in legal areas relevant to bioscience, such as intellectual property, constitutional law, corporate law, and administrative law. Many of our courses involve other Stanford departments, and most integrate multidisciplinary materials.

Beyond the classroom, the Center also provides access to a broad spectrum of practitioners, regulators, and academicians throughout the biotech industry, as well as to hands-on involvement in research and collaborative dialogues.

Our students engage in a wide array of extracurricular activities, and can participate in two cutting edge student organizations. "BioLaw," a new student organization devoted to law and the biosciences, works with the Center to sponsor regular seminars and conferences, and to publish "SNPs," a newsletter about developments in law and the biosciences. The "Stanford Law and Technology Association," with a broader emphasis on both information and life science technologies, also holds regular events and publishes the "Stanford Technology Law Review."

Stanford Law School graduates pursue a variety of distinguished careers in the life-sciences field. Our alumni currently hold leadership positions within biotech companies, federal and state agencies, the White House, major corporations, law firms with strong life-science practices, and academia.

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Fixed Term Position

One to two year term

Stanford Law School invites applications for the 2010-2011 Fellowship Program at the Center for Law and the Biosciences.

The Goal:

This fellowship is intended for people who want an academic or policy career working on legal and social issues arising from advances in the biosciences, with a particular emphasis on neuroscience, genetics, and stem cells. Five of our former fellows are now teaching at universities in the United States, Asia, and Europe: Teneille Brown, Utah University College of Law; Colleen Chien, Santa Clara University; Mikyung Kim, KAIST; Jaime Staples King, Hastings College of Law; and Simon Wakeman, European School of Management and Technology.

The Center:

The Center for Law and the Biosciences, directed by Professor Hank Greely, examines bioscience discoveries in the context of the law, weighing their both impact on society and the law's role in shaping that impact. The Center is part of the Stanford Program in Law, Science & Technology.

Located at the heart of the world's biotechnology industry and inside a preeminent research university, the Center brings together academics, lawyers, scientists, policy makers, and students. Through conferences, workshops, lectures, and academic courses, the Center promotes research and public discourse on the ethical, legal, scientific, economic, and social implications of accelerated technological change in the life sciences. For more information, visit our website.

The Fellowship:

The Center for Law and the Biosciences Fellowship is a residential fellowship that provides an opportunity to conduct research in the dynamic environment of Stanford Law School. We prefer two year fellowships to help the fellow complete a significant body of independent scholarship, but we are willing to consider one year terms. We expect fellows to dedicate most of their time to pursuing their proposed research projects, while dedicating about ten percent of their time to organizing and implementing other Center activities, including our annual conference, our monthly speaker series, our biweekly journal club, and our other activities. Fellows are encouraged to attend weekly faculty lunch seminars and participate in activities with the growing number of fellows at Stanford Law School to learn more about the legal scholarship and academic life. For the 2010-2011 fellowship, we are in the process of confirming funding. We expect to provide fellows with office space, a competitive stipend, and a generous benefits package. Applicants should have a JD or other doctoral level degree (MD, PhD) in a relevant area. A law degree is a significant advantage, but is not a requirement.

Additional Qualifications:

Substantial research experience
Experience with organizing workshops/event planning from both a content and logistical perspective
JD, MD or PhD with substantial legal interest demonstrated in your research agenda

The Application Process:

Applicants should submit a CV, contact information of three references, a writing sample, and a research proposal (in 2000 words or less) to Angela Arroyo by November 2, 2009 at 5:00 PM PDT and must also submit your resume/CV on-line via the Stanford jobs website (reference job number 35764). We will choose fellows based on demonstrated academic merit and on the intellectual strength of their research proposal. Decisions will be made by December 1, 2009.

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Hank Greely
Deane F. and Kate Edelman Johnson Professor of Law
650 723.2517
Mark A. Lemley
William H. Neukom Professor of Law
650 723.4605

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Kelly Lowenberg
Stanford Law School Fellow
CJ Murdoch
Stanford Law School Fellow
Brenda M. Simon
Stanford Law School Fellow
650 721.5592

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Hank Greely
Director
650 723.2517

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CLB Speaker Series: Michael Perlin on neuroimaging testimony, severe mental illness, and the death penalty
February 11, 2010 from 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
CLB Speaker Series: Osagie Obasogie
February 16, 2010 from 12:45 pm - 2:00 pm
"Cruel and Unusual Ethics? Examining Recent Efforts to Loosen Restrictions on Using Prisoners in Medical Research"
SIGNAL: Stanford Interdisciplinary Group in Neuroscience and Law
February 18, 2010 from 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm
CLB Journal Club with Jordana Mosten
February 24, 2010 from 12:45 pm - 2:00 pm
Beyond Computers: Privacy and Security Vulnerabilities in Robots and Embedded Medical Devices
April 6, 2010 from 12:45 pm - 2:00 pm
CIS/CLB/SLATA Speaker Series
Issues in Drug Development and International Access Conference
April 9, 2010 from 8:30 am - 2:00 pm
Implications of Maternal Serum Fetal Cell Free DNA Conference
May 7, 2010 from 8:00 am - 7:00 pm

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  • Stanford Law School to Advance "Neurolaw" as Part of $10 Million Grant
    October 31, 2007
    Related: Hank Greely, Center for Law and the Biosciences

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    Crown Quadrangle
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