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roger wiegand
11-11-2021, 7:17 AM
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/10/us/justin-wilke-maple-fire-tree-dna-sentenced.html?smid=url-share

As one of the people who helped develop the technology behind nailing this slimeball, I'm very happy.

If the link is paywalled for you the article describes how genetic testing of bigleaf maple trees was used to show that the wood being sold using faked permits by the individual in question was milled from stolen trees. Oh-- and they started a forest fire in the process.

Dave Fritz
11-11-2021, 7:52 AM
Excellent Roger. I did get paywalled of course so I appreciate your short explanation. It brought to mind this: https://onwisconsin.uwalumni.com/features/grain-of-truth/

Forest products research lab is an amazing place. Science is so critical to our understanding of the universe.

Thank you.

roger wiegand
11-11-2021, 12:26 PM
That's quite the story! I never got to work on trees, though I'm really interested in correctly identifying old apple trees and their lineages.

Jim Koepke
11-11-2021, 3:07 PM
Excellent Roger. I did get paywalled of course so I appreciate your short explanation. It brought to mind this: https://onwisconsin.uwalumni.com/features/grain-of-truth/

Forest products research lab is an amazing place. Science is so critical to our understanding of the universe.

Thank you.

One part of that story confused me:


When he succeeded, bedlam ensued worldwide. In the two weeks before he returned home, Lindbergh received 3.5 million letters, 100,000 telegrams, and 14,000 parcels. He launched a barnstorming tour supporting commercial aviation, flying to 92 cities in 49 states, and giving 147 speeches. He turned down $5 million worth of movie roles, product endorsements, and public appearances.

This was in 1927. There were only 48 states from 1912 to 1959.

jtk

Alex Zeller
11-11-2021, 3:09 PM
I watched a crime story about a murder. The person convicted because seed pods from a tree above where the body was found were stuck in the bed of the suspect's truck. With the DNA they proved his vehicle was at the scene of the crime. The biggest challenge was getting the court to accept that tree DNA is as unique as human DNA. This was back in the early 90s.

Jack Frederick
11-11-2021, 4:30 PM
Not sure if this will turn up anything for you back east, but Felix Gillette was instrumental in the various fruit including apples, filbert, Walnut, etc introducing in CA and the NW. his base was here in Nevada City.
https://www.theunion.com/entertainment/activities-and-events/nevada-county-organic-farmer-saves-heirloom-trees-for-food-and-history/

Bill Dufour
11-11-2021, 7:16 PM
I have read that some of the original apple trees planted in 1820 by the Russians at Fort Ross California are still alive.
Bill D

Bill Dufour
11-15-2021, 10:51 AM
I have read they are using DNA for bear poachers selling gall bladders.
Bill D.