How Forensic DNA Solves Cold Cases | Dr. Dean Hildebrand

How does forensic DNA really solve cold cases? And what does CSI get wrong?

Dr. Dean Hildebrand is a forensic DNA scientist and the Dean of BCIT's School of Computing and Academic Studies. He also leads the work of the BCIT Forensic DNA Laboratory, which helps police solve crimes and identify human remains.

In this episode of Starborn Labs, host Ignacio Guerrero talks with Dr. Hildebrand about the real science behind DNA evidence. He explains how investigative genetic genealogy works and how his lab helped identify Alma Beaulieu decades after she died at a residential school, working with Deninu K'ue First Nation. He also talks about the "Babes in the Woods" cold case.

In this episode:

What CSI gets wrong about forensic science

What DNA can and cannot prove in court

How genetic genealogy is solving cold cases

Where DNA technology and precision medicine are going

AI in science: the promise and the danger

Why losing trust in experts is a bigger threat than AI

How forensic work changes you as a person and a father

Career advice for anyone who wants to work in forensic science

Content note: This episode talks about residential schools, child deaths, homicide, sexual assault and violence.

Chapters:

(0:00) Why trust in experts matters

(0:57) Meet Dr. Dean Hildebrand

(1:35) What CSI gets wrong

(4:35) What DNA can actually reveal

(7:37) Genetic genealogy and cold cases

(7:59) Identifying Alma Beaulieu after decades

(11:43) Dean's unlikely path into forensic science

(15:19) Where DNA technology is heading

(17:02) How forensic work changes you

(20:42) The promise and danger of AI

(24:01) Will AI replace forensic scientists?

(26:28) Why distrust of experts is the bigger threat

(30:55) The Babes in the Woods cold case

(32:56) Crime, trauma and fatherhood

(35:18) Training professionals for sexual assault cases

(36:17) Transforming education at BCIT

(37:55) Keeping up as forensic science speeds up

(40:07) The legacy that matters most

(43:46) Career advice: start with the person

(45:28) What Dean would tell his younger self

Learn more about the BCIT Forensic DNA Laboratory: https://forensiclab.ca

Explore Starborn: https://star-born.com

Watch the full video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StarbornOfficialBrand