Skip to content
DraconiticResearch
Search Sources API
203,948 studies31 sourcesUpdated just now
Peer-reviewedCC BYGenetics in medicine open

Public preferences for investigative genetic genealogy (IGG) programs: A discrete choice experiment.

  • Nijole P Tjader1
  • Natalie Riva Smith2
  • Nicola B Campoamor1
  • Amy L McGuire3
  • Christi J Guerrini3
  • John F P Bridges1
  • Norah L Crossnohere4
4 affiliations
  1. 1Department of Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH.
  2. 2Department of Health Policy and Management, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.
  3. 3Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.
  4. 4Department of Internal Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH.
Read full textPDFDOICite

Abstract

Investigative genetic genealogy (IGG) uses data from genetic relative-finder services to assist law enforcement in identifying unknown individuals through crime scene DNA. Its use raises concerns about privacy infringements and acceptable trade-offs for public safety. We assessed the public acceptability of IGG and preferences for specific IGG programs. We conducted a survey with an embedded choice experiment among US adults recruited through a probability-based panel. IGG acceptability was assessed through attitudinal questions. Preferences for IGG programs were assessed using a discrete choice experiment with 6 attributes: crime type, additional cases solved, customer privacy, privacy of genetic relatives, case status, and priority populations. Choice data were analyzed using conditional logistic regression to generate relative attribute importance. Among 1123 participants (52% female, 61% White), 88% believed it was ever acceptable to use IGG to investigate any crime, with only 5% indicating it should never be used. Privacy of genetic relatives and additional cases solved were the most influential factors in the selection of IGG programs (relative attribute importance, 33% and 31%, respectively). IGG was generally acceptable to US adults. Policymakers and experts developing IGG programs may improve public trust by ensuring that the programs are maximally effective and by embedding privacy protections for noncustomer genetic relatives.

Related

  1. FIGGsolver: An interactive algorithm that guides the genealogy process in forensic investigative genetic genealogy.
    Lawrence M Wein, Malo Sommers
    Forensic science international. SynergyPeer-reviewedCC BYFull textGenetics & genomicsEurope PMC
  2. Dairy farmers’ preferences for reducing pesticide use: does workload matter? Evidence from a discrete choice experiment among dairy farmers in Brittany, France
    Julia Denantes, Aude Ridier, Carole Ropars-Collet +2
    Journal of Rural StudiesPeer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Full textGeneral biologyHAL
  3. HIV self-testing preferences among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in urban settings in Uganda: A discrete choice experiment
    Laban Muteebwa, Patience A. Muwanguzi, Shivan Nuwasiima +6
    PLOS Global Public HealthPeer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Full textMicrobiologyNeurosciencePLOS
  4. Preferences for olive oil between taste and healthiness: an incentivised experiment in Morocco and Tunisia
    Simone Piras, Carla Barlagne, Jesper Clement +4
    Q OpenPeer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Full textGeneral biologyHAL
  5. Smallholder farmers' preferences for public expenditure priorities to support maize productivity: evidence from a best–worst scaling experiment in western Kenya
    Fido Orawo, Dickson Okello, John Olwande
    Frontiers in Sustainable Food SystemsPeer-reviewedCC BYFull textGeneral biologyNutritionDOAJ

Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{tjader2026public,
  title = {{Public preferences for investigative genetic genealogy (IGG) programs: A discrete choice experiment.}},
  author = {Nijole P Tjader and Natalie Riva Smith and Nicola B Campoamor and Amy L McGuire and Christi J Guerrini and John F P Bridges and Norah L Crossnohere},
  journal = {Genetics in medicine open},
  year = {2026},
  month = sep,
  doi = {10.1016/j.gimo.2026.104499},
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42999570},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Public preferences for investigative genetic genealogy (IGG) programs: A discrete choice experiment.
AU  - Nijole P Tjader
AU  - Natalie Riva Smith
AU  - Nicola B Campoamor
AU  - Amy L McGuire
AU  - Christi J Guerrini
AU  - John F P Bridges
AU  - Norah L Crossnohere
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/30
JO  - Genetics in medicine open
DO  - 10.1016/j.gimo.2026.104499
UR  - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42999570
AB  - Investigative genetic genealogy (IGG) uses data from genetic relative-finder services to assist law enforcement in identifying unknown individuals through crime scene DNA. Its use raises concerns about privacy infringements and acceptable trade-offs for public safety. We assessed the public acceptability of IGG and preferences for specific IGG programs. We conducted a survey with an embedded choice experiment among US adults recruited through a probability-based panel. IGG acceptability was assessed through attitudinal questions. Preferences for IGG programs were assessed using a discrete choice experiment with 6 attributes: crime type, additional cases solved, customer privacy, privacy of genetic relatives, case status, and priority populations. Choice data were analyzed using conditional logistic regression to generate relative attribute importance. Among 1123 participants (52% female, 61% White), 88% believed it was ever acceptable to use IGG to investigate any crime, with only 5% indicating it should never be used. Privacy of genetic relatives and additional cases solved were the most influential factors in the selection of IGG programs (relative attribute importance, 33% and 31%, respectively). IGG was generally acceptable to US adults. Policymakers and experts developing IGG programs may improve public trust by ensuring that the programs are maximally effective and by embedding privacy protections for noncustomer genetic relatives.
SN  - 2949-7744
ER  -