Forensic genetic genealogy in Latin America: An assessment of its potential and challenges

Abstract

Forensic Genetic Genealogy enables the identification of distant relatives through public genomic databases and genealogical analysis, offering a valuable tool for solving criminal cases and identifying missing persons. FGG development in Latin America—particularly in Mexico—could help alleviate the region’s severe forensic backlog. However, practical implementation faces challenges, including the underrepresentation of Latin American and Indigenous populations in databases like GEDmatch. Integrating existing population-genomic data from Latin America could enhance its effectiveness by enabling geographic origin inference of forensic evidence. Educating individuals undergoing genomic testing about the potential judicial value of sharing their data—and its implications for them and their relatives—is essential for ethical and impactful application.