Karen Ehlers did her M.Sc in the genetic characterization of seven horse breeds in South Africa and her  Ph.D. on an individual-based approach to genetic management in the wildlilfe industry, focusing on rhino species. Her current research is focusing on wildlife forensics, forensic entomology and human forensics, including Y-STR databases and Forensic molecular phenotyping. In 2015, she was appointed by the Minister of Police to serve as a member of the National Forensic Oversight and Ethics Board. The Board was created as part of the DNA act that became operational in January 2015.

Grobler, J.P.; Hartl, G.B.; Grobler, N.; Kotze,A.; Botha K.; Tiedemann, R. 2005. The genetic status of an isolated black wildebeest (Connochaetes gnou) population from the Abe Bailey Nature Reserve, South Africa: Microsatellite data on a putative past hybridization with blue wildebeest (C. taurinus). Mammalian Biology 70, (2005) 1: 46 – 60.

Grobler J.P., Pretorius D.M., Botha K., Kotze A., Hallerman E.M. Jansen van Vuuren. 2005. An exploratory analysis of geographic genetic variation in southern African nyala (Tragelaphus angasii). Mammalian Biology 70 (2005)5 : 291-299.

Kotze A., Ehlers K, Cilliers D.C. & Grobler, JP. 2008. The power of resolution of microsatellie markers and assignment test to determine the geopgraphic origin of cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) in Southern Africa.

Mamm. biol. 73 (2008) 457–462

Tshipuliso NO.M., Alexander L.K., Kotze A., Ehlers K., Reisenauer Leesburg V.L. & MacNeil M.D. 2008. Structural assessment of backcrossing using microsatellite markers. South African Journal of Animal Science 38 (4) 290 – 292

Bubb, A.; Ehlers K.; Kotze A. & Grobler, J.P. 2011. The effect of sample age and storage method on DNA yield and microsatellite amplification from baboon (Papio ursinus) faecal samples. Eur J Wildl Res 57: 971 - 975

Lucassen A.; Ehlers K.; Grobler J.P & Shezi A.L. 2013. Allele frequency data of 15 autosomal STR loci in four major population groups of South Africa. International Journal of Legal Medicine DOI 10.1007/s00414-013-0898-4

Pienaar L., Grobler J.P., Neser F.W.C., Scholtz M.M., Swart H., Ehlers K. & Marx M. 2014. Genetic diversity in selected stud and commercial herds of the Afrikaner cattle breed. South African Journal of Animal Science 2014, 44 (Issue 5, Supplement 1) http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/sajas.v44i5.16

Pienaar, L., Neser, F.W.C., Grobler, J.P., Scholtz, M.M., Swart, H., Ehlers, K., Marx, M. and MacNeil, M.D. 2015. Pedigree analysis of the Afrikaner cattle breed. Animal Genetic Resources, 57: 51-56.

Karen Ehlers is currently involved in forensic genetics  with research projects focusing on molecular phenotyping, secondary DNA transfer, Y-STR DNA database analysis. Current research projects also include wildlife forensics and forensic entomology.  

Forensiese genetika

Wild forensies

Forensiese entomologie

FORS2626 - Crime scene management

FORG6854 - Crime scene investigations and the justice system