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Editor's note
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Applying genealogy “family tree” techniques to forensic DNA analysis is now a tool for solving cold cases – as we learned after the recent arrest of the suspected “Golden State Killer”.
But genealogy is a complex and difficult process, prone to error and misinterpretation. Without expert knowledge, false assumptions can be made and investigative resources wasted.
In the first instalment of our series: When DNA Talks, Nathan Scudder and Dennis McNevin explore the legal, ethical and social implications of how these technologies are being used.
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Shelley Hepworth
Section Editor: Technology
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Top story
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Females who remain unidentified at the time of burial are named ‘Jane Doe’.
Findagrave
Nathan Scudder, University of Canberra; Dennis McNevin, University of Technology Sydney
We're at the point in DNA technology where individuals who – having parted with $99 and a small vial of saliva – may suddenly find themselves in a criminal investigation.
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Environment + Energy
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Mandy Freund, University of Melbourne; Ben Henley, University of Melbourne; Kathryn Allen, University of Melbourne; Patrick Baker, University of Melbourne
Australia has always suffered heat and flood, but a detailed seasonal rainfall reconstruction of the last 800 years shows the extremes are intensifying.
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Michael Lohr, Edith Cowan University; Robert Davis, Edith Cowan University
Rat baits are widely used to keep rodent pests at bay. But many Australian reptiles are resistant to the poison, potentially spreading these deadly compounds up the food chain.
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Politics + Society
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Sandra Elhelw Wright, Australian National University
Divorce in the Islamic community is a complex subject, battling misperceptions and entrenched stereotypes.
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Health + Medicine
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Nicole Lee, Curtin University
There are many good private alcohol and drug treatment providers, but lack of regulation means some unethical practices are being uncovered. Here's what you should know about treatment.
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Andrew Costanzo, Deakin University
Recent studies have shown that we may be able to train ourselves to become more sensitive to certain tastes, which leads to feeling more full and satisfied after eating a meal.
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Arts + Culture
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Noah Riseman, Australian Catholic University
Still Point Turning highlights the stigma and controversy around Australia's most high-profile transgender person.
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Euan Ritchie, Deakin University
Planet Earth II Live fuses footage from the BBC series with live orchestration. Despite some narrative flaws, it's a stirring call to look after our environment.
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Business + Economy
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Diane Kraal, Monash University
A small change in the method for valuing gas would increase revenue from the petroleum resource rent tax by US$15.5 billion to 2030, compared to the current US$5 billion to 2030.
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
Westacott is on the frontline in what has become the toughest of gigs, given the shocking disclosures, and subsequent fallout, in the financial sector.
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Andrew Schmulow, University of Western Australia
ASIC and APRA don't lack power to sack bank directors. They the lack the willpower to do so.
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Cities
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Jason Byrne, University of Tasmania; Emma Pharo, University of Tasmania
Trains and trams get most attention, but 'tweaking' bus transit can transform cities. Buses can be more cost-effective and deliver better service, especially for small to mid-sized cities.
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Science + Technology
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Katharine Kemp, UNSW; David Vaile, UNSW
Words matter – not just for building trust and understanding, but for weighing up legal issues. So maybe "open" and "shared" aren't the right words to use when we refer to our data.
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James Birt
Australia’s deep passion for sport is changing, with fewer people attending major traditional sporting events and eSports on the rise.
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Featured jobs
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Featured events
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Doltone House, Jones Bay Wharf, Pyrmont, Sydney, New South Wales, 2009, Australia — Australasian Hydrographic Society
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PO Box 1371, Mitcham North, Victoria, 3132, Australia — Australian Society for Immunology
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RMIT University Storey Hall Level 5, Building 16 336 - 348 Swanston Street Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia — RMIT University
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Roundhouse, Kensington, New South Wales, 2052, Australia — UNSW
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