The Human Genetics Lab in Sequoia Hall is developing new research and databases that could help to better identify criminals, victims or the paternity of a child.

Ruth Ballard runs the DNA genetics lab on campus, where she is currently working to develop better DNA tests for specific ethnic groups. Ballard said the lab is creating databases for parts of the world that currently do not have any DNA data. The three ethnic groups she is currently focusing on are the Laotian, Assyrian and Tanzanians.

Ballard has gone to Africa four times to collect data, most recently for two months last summer. Nine Sacramento State students accompanied her on the trip, and another trip is planned for April during spring break.

Originally, Ballard offered the native tribes money for samples of their DNA, but quickly found that the natives were not very interested in the money because they had to travel too far to spend it.

“We were offering $2 a sample, but we had to start buying goats and livestock to trade for samples instead because it was something the tribes could actually use,” Ballard said.

Since the native tribes often can’t write, consent for the samples had to be obtained by using a video camera to record a conversation of consent between a translator and the natives. Prior to traveling to Africa, Ballard must also obtain permission from both the university and from the government of Tanzania. The trips are funded through a variety of sources, mainly NSA grants, research award programs and private donations from alumni or students.

The information that is being collected will be used to form a database that courts can use when they have a case which involves DNA from one of the ethnic groups.

Mary Hansen of the Sacramento County forensics lab said the data collected at the genetics lab at Sac State will benefit the entire forensic community. “Population data is a big thing for us, because it gives weight to the cases,” Hansen said.

Ballard does genetics calculations for Sacramento County for approximately one case a month. The most common use for DNA is testing for paternity, but it is also used in criminal cases.

The research can also be used to help identify victims of disasters, such as airline crashes or other events where the bodies may not be easily identifiable. Ballard said a person could be potentially identified by a leftover cup, one strand of hair or a toothbrush, and that DNA can be extracted from several different sources, including blood, semen, saliva, dandruff, skin cells or hair.