The FORCE Panel: An All-in-One SNP Marker Set for Confirming Investigative Genetic Genealogy Leads and for General Forensic Applications

The FORensic Capture Enrichment (FORCE) panel is an all-in-one SNP panel for forensic applications. This panel of 5422 markers encompasses common, forensically relevant SNPs (identity, ancestry, phenotype, X- and Y-chromosomal SNPs), a novel set of 3931 autosomal SNPs for extended kinship analysis, and no clinically relevant/disease markers. The FORCE panel was developed as a custom hybridization capture assay utilizing ~20,000 baits to target the selected SNPs. Five non-probative, previously identified World War II (WWII) cases were used to assess the kinship panel. Each case included one bone sample and associated family reference DNA samples. Additionally, seven reference quality samples, two 200-year-old bone samples, and four control DNAs were processed for kit performance and concordance assessments. SNP recovery after capture resulted in a mean of ~99% SNPs exceeding 10X coverage for reference and control samples, and 44.4% SNPs for bone samples. The WWII case results showed that the FORCE panel could predict first to fifth degree relationships with strong statistical support (likelihood ratios over 10,000 and posterior probabilities over 99.99%). To conclude, SNPs will be important for further advances in forensic DNA analysis. The FORCE panel shows promising results and demonstrates the utility of a 5000 SNP panel for forensic applications.

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The FORCE panel: An all-in-one SNP marker set for confirming investigative genetic genealogy leads and for general forensic applications

10.1101/2021.11.30.470354 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Andreas Tillmar ◽

Kimberly Sturk-Andreaggi ◽

Jennifer Daniels-Higginbotham ◽

Jacqueline Tyler Thomas ◽

Charla Marshall

Keyword(s):

World War Ii ◽

Dna Analysis ◽

Likelihood Ratios ◽

Autosomal Snps ◽

Kinship Analysis ◽

Forensic Dna Analysis ◽

Hybridization Capture ◽

Reference Quality ◽

Snp Panel ◽

Associated Family

The FORensic Capture Enrichment (FORCE) panel is an all-in-one SNP panel for forensic applications. This panel of 5,422 markers encompasses common, forensically relevant SNPs (identity, ancestry, phenotype, X- and Y-chromosomal SNPs), a novel set of 3,931 autosomal SNPs for extended kinship analysis, and no clinically rele-vant/disease markers. The FORCE panel was developed as a custom hybridization capture assay utilizing ~20,000 baits to target the selected SNPs. Five non-probative, previously identified World War II (WWII) cases were used to assess the kinship panel. Each case included one bone sample and associated family reference DNA samples. Additionally, seven reference quality samples, two 200-year-old bone samples, and four control DNAs were processed for kit performance and concordance assessments. SNP recovery after capture resulted in a mean of ~99% SNPs exceeding 10X coverage for reference and control samples, and 44.4% SNPs for bone samples. The WWII case results showed that the FORCE panel could predict 1st to 5th degree relationships with strong statisti-cal support (likelihood ratios over 10,000 and posterior probabilities over 99.99%). To conclude, SNPs will be important for further advances in forensic DNA analysis. The FORCE panel shows promising results and demonstrates the utility of a 5,000 SNP panel for forensic applications.

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Autosomal STR Profiling and Databanking in Malaysia: Current Status and Future Prospects

Genes ◽

10.3390/genes11101112 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (10) ◽

pp. 1112

Author(s):

Hashom Mohd Hakim ◽

Hussein Omar Khan ◽

Japareng Lalung ◽

Bryan Raveen Nelson ◽

Geoffrey Keith Chambers ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tandem Repeats ◽

Dna Analysis ◽

Dna Profiling ◽

Individual Identification ◽

Current Status ◽

Weight Of Evidence ◽

Forensic Dna ◽

Kinship Analysis ◽

Forensic Dna Analysis ◽

Dna Profiles

Science and technology are extensively used in criminal investigation. From the mid- to late-1980s, one of the scientific discoveries that has had a particularly remarkable impact on this field has been the use of highly variable DNA sequence regions (minisatellites) in the human genome for individual identification. The technique was initially referred to as DNA fingerprinting, but is now more widely referred to as DNA profiling. Since then, many new developments have occurred within this area of science. These include the introduction of new genetic markers (microsatellites also known as short tandem repeats/STRs), the use of the polymerase chain reaction for target amplification, the development of DNA databases (databanking), and the advancement and/or improvement of genotyping protocols and technologies. In 2019, we described the progress of DNA profiling and DNA databanking in Malaysia for the first time. This report included information on DNA analysis regulations and legislation, STR genotyping protocols, database management, and accreditation status. Here, we provide an update on the performance of our DNA databank (numbers of DNA profiles and hits) plus the technical issues associated with correctly assigning the weight of evidence for DNA profiles in an ethnically diverse population, and the potential application of rapid DNA testing in the country. A total of 116,534 DNA profiles were obtained and stored in the Forensic DNA Databank of Malaysia (FDDM) by 2019, having increased from 70,570 in 2017. The number of hits increased by more than three-fold in just two years, where 17 and 69 hits between the DNA profiles stored in the FDDM and those from crime scenes, suspects, detainees, drug users, convicts, missing persons, or volunteers were recorded in 2017 and 2019, respectively. Forensic DNA analysis and databanking are thus progressing well in Malaysia and have already contributed to many criminal investigations. However, several other issues are discussed here, including the need for STR population data for uncharacterized population groups, and pilot trials for adopting rapid DNA profiling technology. These aspects should be considered by policy makers and law enforcement agencies in order to increase the reliability and efficiency of DNA profiling in criminal cases and in kinship analysis in Malaysia.

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Evaluation of the Ion AmpliSeq™ PhenoTrivium Panel: MPS-Based Assay for Ancestry and Phenotype Predictions Challenged by Casework Samples

Genes ◽

10.3390/genes11121398 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (12) ◽

pp. 1398

Author(s):

Marta Diepenbroek ◽

Birgit Bayer ◽

Kristina Schwender ◽

Roberta Schiller ◽

Jessica Lim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dna Analysis ◽

Snp Markers ◽

Forensic Dna ◽

Autosomal Snps ◽

Single Nucleotide ◽

Forensic Dna Analysis ◽

Police Investigations ◽

Biogeographical Ancestry ◽

Reference Samples ◽

Shed Light

As the field of forensic DNA analysis has started to transition from genetics to genomics, new methods to aid in crime scene investigations have arisen. The development of informative single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers has led the forensic community to question if DNA can be a reliable “eye-witness” and whether the data it provides can shed light on unknown perpetrators. We have developed an assay called the Ion AmpliSeq™ PhenoTrivium Panel, which combines three groups of markers: 41 phenotype- and 163 ancestry-informative autosomal SNPs together with 120 lineage-specific Y-SNPs. Here, we report the results of testing the assay’s sensitivity and the predictions obtained for known reference samples. Moreover, we present the outcome of a blind study performed on real casework samples in order to understand the value and reliability of the information that would be provided to police investigators. Furthermore, we evaluated the accuracy of admixture prediction in Converge™ Software. The results show the panel to be a robust and sensitive assay which can be used to analyze casework samples. We conclude that the combination of the obtained predictions of phenotype, biogeographical ancestry, and male lineage can serve as a potential lead in challenging police investigations such as cold cases or cases with no suspect.

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Recent Advances in Forensic DNA Analysis

Journal of Forensic Research ◽

10.4172/2157-7145.s12-001 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol s12 (01) ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Jennifer M Romeika

Keyword(s):

Dna Analysis ◽

Forensic Dna ◽

Forensic Dna Analysis ◽

Recent Advances

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Amelogenin test abnormalities revealed in Belarusian population during forensic DNA analysis

Forensic Science International Genetics ◽

10.1016/j.fsigen.2014.10.014 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 15 ◽

pp. 98-104 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Sergey Borovko ◽

Alena Shyla ◽

Victorya Korban ◽

Alexandra Borovko

Keyword(s):

Dna Analysis ◽

Forensic Dna ◽

Forensic Dna Analysis

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Discovering a double murder through skeletal remains: A case report

Medicine Science and the Law ◽

10.1177/0025802418812648 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 59 (1) ◽

pp. 9-16 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Samuele Manzoni ◽

Andrea Ossoli ◽

Venusia Cortellini ◽

Andrea Verzeletti

Keyword(s):

Dna Analysis ◽

Skeletal Remains ◽

Post Mortem ◽

Forensic Dna ◽

Biological Profile ◽

Life Imprisonment ◽

Forensic Dna Analysis ◽

Complex Process ◽

Forensic Case ◽

Two Bodies

Forensic examination of human remains is a complex process that relies on the contribution of multidisciplinary forensic medicine specialties. Here we present a complex forensic case regarding a double murder whose victims were found almost completely skeletonized. Post-mortem investigations allowed us to define the biological profile of the two bodies (ancestry, sex, age and stature), to discover their identity through forensic DNA analysis, and to detect peri-mortem injuries caused by firearms and stabbing weapons. Three men were recognized as involved in the crime and two of them were condemned to life imprisonment for homicide. The judges accepted the reconstruction of the crime promoted by the Prosecutor (double firearm murder).

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