scholarly journals Efficient DNA Sampling in Burglary Investigations

Genes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 26
Author(s):  
Colin Charles Tièche ◽  
Markus Dubach ◽  
Martin Zieger
Keyword(s):  
Crime Scene ◽  
Forensic Dna ◽  
Dna Profile ◽  
Dna Database ◽  
Dna Sampling ◽  
High Incidence ◽  
Crime Scene Investigators ◽  
Dna Collection ◽  
Private Homes ◽  
Reference Samples

In terms of crime scene investigations by means of forensic DNA-analyses, burglaries are the number one mass crime in Switzerland. Around one third of the DNA trace profiles registered in the Swiss DNA database are related to burglaries. However, during the collection of potential DNA traces within someone’s residence after a burglary, it is not known whether the sampled DNA originated from the perpetrator or from an inhabitant of said home. Because of the high incidence of burglaries, crime scene investigators usually do not collect reference samples from all the residents for economical and administrative reasons. Therefore, the presumably high probability that a DNA profile belonging to a person authorized to be at the crime scene ends up being sent to a DNA database for comparison, has to be taken into account. To our knowledge, no investigation has been made to evaluate the percentage of these non-perpetrator profiles straying into DNA databases. To shed light on this question, we collected reference samples from residents who had been victims of recent burglaries in their private homes. By comparing the profiles established from these reference samples with the profiles generated from trace DNA, we can show that the majority of the DNA samples collected in burglary investigations belong to the residents. Despite the limited number of cases included in the study, presumably due to a crime decline caused by the pandemic, we further show that trace DNA collection in the vicinity of the break and entry area, in particular window and door glasses, is most promising for sampling perpetrator instead of inhabitant DNA.

scholarly journals Assessment of QIAGEN™ Investigator® 24plex GO! kit workflow for autosomal STR profiling of forensic reference samples

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hashom Mohd Hakim ◽  
Hussein Omar Khan ◽  
Siti Afifah Ismail ◽  
Nurul Hazirah Mat Lazim ◽  
Japareng Lalung ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pcr Amplification ◽  
Dna Profiling ◽  
Buccal Swab ◽  
Forensic Dna ◽  
Str Typing ◽  
Str Analysis ◽  
Dna Database ◽  
Autosomal Str ◽  
Dna Template ◽  
Reference Samples

Abstract Background DNA profiling has proven to be a valuable technique for identification of individuals in crime. Currently, the technique targets several short tandem repeat (STR) regions in human genome. However, increasing number of samples submitted for STR analysis may lead to delays due to the limited number of experienced analysts who might be available at any given moment and the time taken to complete lengthy DNA profiling procedures. This study was conducted to test the specificity, repeatability, reproducibility and robustness of Investigator® 24plex GO! kit for genotyping of reference samples submitted to the Royal Malaysian Police Forensic DNA Laboratory for DNA database. Material and methods In this study, Investigator® 24plex GO! kit was used to directly amplify STR loci from buccal swab cell of reference samples that had previously been STR typed using GlobalFiler™ Express kit. Capillary electrophoresis was carried out on a 3500xL Genetic Analyser using POP-4® Polymer. Amplified products were assigned to particular STR alleles using the GeneMapper ID-X version 1.4 software. Results Our study shows that STR profiles generated using Investigator® 24plex GO! gave concordance results with those previously obtained using the GlobalFiler™ Express kit. In addition, quality sensors included in the kit are of particular importance for determining the effectiveness of the PCR reaction and help to indicate the nature and quantity of DNA template for PCR amplification. Conclusion The Investigator® 24plex GO! kit is reliable for STR typing of reference samples.

Turning Base Hits into Earned Runs: Improving the Effectiveness of Forensic DNA Data Bank Programs

2006 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 222-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederick R. Bieber
Keyword(s):  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Biological Samples ◽  
Data Bank ◽  
Crime Scene ◽  
Forensic Dna ◽  
Potential Harm ◽  
The Public ◽  
Dna Database ◽  
Dna Profiles ◽  
Data Banks

Forensic data banks contain biological samples and DNA extracts as well as computerized databases of coded DNA profiles of convicted offenders, arrestees and crime scene samples. When used for investigative and law enforcement purposes, DNA data banks have been successful in providing key investigative leads in hundreds of criminal investigations. A number of these crimes would never have been resolved without use of such data banks. In addition, in some limited number of investigations, the exclusion of known suspects whose DNA profiles are known to be in an offender database can save valuable investigative time.Despite the above benefits, in hundreds of cases DNA samples are never collected and administrative and laboratory logjams delay prompt database searches. Furthermore, hundreds of DNA database matches (hits) languish, without any followup by law enforcement or prosecutors. These prevent or delay DNA matches and therefore can leave the public in grave risk of potential harm from recidivistic offenders who otherwise could have been apprehended and convicted if the process functioned more effectively.

scholarly journals Interpretation of DNA data within the context of UK forensic science — evaluation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto Puch-Solis ◽  
Susan Pope
Keyword(s):  
State Of The Art ◽  
Crime Scene ◽  
Database Search ◽  
Dna Profiling ◽  
Forensic Dna ◽  
Criminal Trials ◽  
Kinship Analysis ◽  
Dna Database ◽  
Forensic Dna Profiling ◽  
The Uk

Forensic DNA provides a striking contribution to the provision of justice worldwide. It has proven to be crucial in the investigative phase of an unsolved crime where a suspect needs to be identified, e.g. from a DNA database search both nationally and internationally. It is also a powerful tool in the assignment of evidential weight to the comparison of a profile of a person of interest and a crime scene profile. The focus of this document is the evaluation of autosomal profiles for criminal trials in the UK. A separate review covers investigation and evaluation of Y-STR profiles, investigation using autosomal profiles, kinship analysis, body identification and Forensic Genetic Genealogy investigations. In less than 40 years, forensic DNA profiling has developed from a specialist technique to everyday use. Borrowing on advances in genome typing technology, forensic DNA profiling has experienced a substantial increase in its sensitivity and informativeness. Alongside this development, novel interpretation methodologies have also been introduced. This document describes the state of the art and future advances in the interpretation of forensic DNA data.

scholarly journals Optimisation of rapid STR analysis using a standard DNA forensic pipeline

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharine Gammon ◽  
Carl Mayers
Keyword(s):  
Capillary Electrophoresis ◽  
Pcr Amplification ◽  
Buccal Cell ◽  
Forensic Dna ◽  
Direct Pcr ◽  
Str Analysis ◽  
Dna Profile ◽  
Fta Cards ◽  
Dna Profiles ◽  
Reference Samples

Previous studies in published literature have reported on various alterations to STR mastermixes, protocols and instrumentation in order to reduce the time taken to generate forensic DNA profiles from reference and casework type samples. In this study, we demonstrate how altering default PCR amplification and capillary electrophoresis protocols in our existing DNA profiling pipeline can reduce the overall time taken to generate a DNA profile from buccal cell reference samples. GlobalFiler Express STR mastermix was used with direct PCR from FTA cards, run on altered PCR protocols and CE settings, and results compared to the standard evaluated settings used in our laboratories. This study demonstrated that full DNA profiles could be recovered in less than 80 minutes in comparison to our standard time of 97 – 102 minutes whilst utilising existing reagent kits and instrumentation, with only minor modifications to protocols.

Microbial Forensics

2020 ◽  
pp. 128-146
Author(s):  
Antti Sajantila ◽  
Bruce Budowle
Keyword(s):  
Dna Analysis ◽  
Forensic Genetics ◽  
Crime Scene ◽  
Forensic Dna ◽  
Forensic Dna Analysis ◽  
Fluid Identification ◽  
Microbial Forensics ◽  
Data Output ◽  
Reference Samples

Forensic DNA analysis has been used predominantly for comparison, either directly or indirectly, of crime scene evidence and known reference samples from human suspects in a variety of situations, such as analyzing a biospecimen(s) from a crime scene, identifying unidentified cadavers (or other human remains) in a postmortem setting, or kinship testing. The field of forensic genetics has recently expanded from its original focus on human samples to more holistic methods of characterization of the source(s) of biological samples. This progression has been motivated in part by technological advancements, from targeted PCR-based methods to higher throughput DNA sequencing methods, with concomitant bioinformatics to support the increased data output. One of the new areas in forensic genetics facilitating the expansion of forensic genomics is the field of microbial forensics. Microbial forensics involves bioterrorism, biocrime, human identification, determining postmortem interval, human geolocation, and body fluid identification.

Forensic DNA Data Banks and Data Mining

2020 ◽  
pp. 67-104
Author(s):  
Frederick R. Bieber
Keyword(s):  
Crime Scene ◽  
Forensic Dna ◽  
Policy Issues ◽  
High Profile ◽  
Dna Database ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Genetic Profiles ◽  
Dna Profiles ◽  
Forensic Genetic ◽  
Data Banks

This chapter discusses how comparing the genetic profiles from crime scene evidence with the profiles in a DNA database can identify persons of interest. Forensic data banks contain DNA extracts as well as computerized databases of coded DNA profiles of convicted offenders, arrestees, and crime scene samples. Searching forensic DNA data banks has provided key investigative leads in thousands of criminal investigations. The chapter explains familial searching, the search for a “partial” match of the evidence profile with a database profile, which leads to the identification of a suspect who is related to the individual in the database, and discusses several high-profile cases that have used this strategy. The recent cases solved by searching ancestry-based DNA databases (genealogics or forensic genetic genealogy) are discussed, as are the metrics for evaluating the effectiveness of DNA database mining as well as the legal and policy issues involved in balancing public safety with privacy interests.

scholarly journals Crime Scene Analysis Through DNA Testing of Canine Feces—A Case Report

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 56-61
Author(s):  
Vishal Somnay ◽  
Thomas Duong ◽  
Ray-Young Tsao ◽  
Joseph A. Prahlow
Keyword(s):  
Case Report ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Crime Scene ◽  
Scene Analysis ◽  
Dna Testing ◽  
Forensic Dna ◽  
Forensic Dna Testing ◽  
Positive Results ◽  
Crime Scene Analysis

Forensic DNA testing can play a critical role in homicide investigations. Selecting the appropriate evidence on which to perform DNA testing requires foresight and reasoning based on experience and science. Although successful DNA testing can occur using many substrates, including blood, hair, and sweat/epithelial cells, positive results can also result from testing various unorthodox samples. The authors report on a triple-murder investigation where DNA testing of dog feces at the crime scene matched DNA testing of feces found on the shoe of a suspect resulting in successful prosecution of the case.

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