Unit of Forensic Genetics

Main tasks

The foremost mission of the UGF is to use the tools of molecular biology to provide objective evidence in forensic caseworks and to answer to requests from individuals seeking information about their lineage.

The UGF is generally commissioned by official authorities but may also carry out paternity tests for private individuals outside the framework of legal proceedings.

Fields of activity

The main activities of the UGF are :

detection of the presence of blood, saliva or sperm on any type of a sample
expert evaluations based on DNA profiles (autosomes, X and Y chromosomes, mitochondrial DNA) obtained using samples taken from individuals or objects during forensic investigations, paternity testing or identification of deceased persons
transmission of DNA profiles into the Swiss DNA database (CODIS)
expert evaluations based on DNA profiles obtained using biological material of animal or plant origin as part of forensic investigations, procedures for identifying species or individuals, illegal trafficking and poaching
research work
teaching (university, police academy, etc).

Accreditation

The UGF is a laboratory in the public domain accredited by the Swiss Accreditation Service (SAS) to ISO 17025 standards STS-420 and is also approved by the Swiss federal police.

Staff

The UGF team comprises around twenty people including :

A Unit head : Vincent Castella, PhD, MER, SSML Forensic Geneticist
A Responsible of Research : Diana Hall, Dr ès Sc
An operational manager : Christian Gehrig, MSc, SSML Forensic Geneticist
Several forensic casework and paternity testing specialists :
- Patrick Basset, Dr ès Sc
- Frédéric Grosjean, Dr ès Sc
- Lydie Samie-Foucart, Dr ès Sc
- Carmelo Simili, MSc
- Séverine Delémont, MSc
Several biomedical analysis technicians
Secretaries
Trainees (biologists, criminalists, physicians, technicians...).