Category
Forensic
Completing the Circle: Forensic Analysis of the Entire Mitochondrial Genome on Ion Torrent MPS Platforms
Nov 21 2016
Traditional sequencing of the mitochondrial genome in forensic labs has been limited largely to hypervariable regions (HVI and HVII) of the control region due to the high dens...
ISO 18385: The Creation of a ‘Forensic Grade’ Standard
Nov 16 2016
Forensic DNA laboratories rely on reagent and plastics manufacturers to supply high-quality products with minimal interference from contaminating DNA. With the increasing se...
The Evolution of Rapid DNA in the United States
Nov 11 2016
Ever since FBI Director Comey told the United States Senate Judiciary Committee that Rapid DNA would “change the world in a very, very exciting way,” integration of the te...
The Comparison of DNA Extractions from Hair Shafts and Evaluation of the 10-Plex PowerSeq Kit by Promega with Low Copy Number Samples
Nov 07 2016
DNA extraction from hair shafts is a common practice in forensic casework. However, the amount of nuclear (n) DNA recovered from hair shafts is usually below what is needed fo...
Digital Forensics Rescues Retro Video Games and Software
Nov 07 2016
Starting in the mid-1980s, a young man named Stephen Cabrinety filled his home with video games and software. Unopened boxes were piled to the ceilings—everything from early...
Evaluation of the SPERM TRACKER™ for Semen Stains Localization on Fabrics
Oct 24 2016
Semen stains localization is an important challenge and a prerequisite to genetic identification during forensic investigations. Often performed using either nonspecific tec...
Fire and Explosion Investigation Guideline Approved for OSAC Registry
Oct 17 2016
The Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Science has approved the National Fire Protection Association Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations...
Moving to Massively Parallel Sequencing (MPS) in the Forensic Lab
Sep 13 2016
Massively Parallel Sequencing (MPS) is now a mainstream technology in many academic areas, and has led to revolutionary discoveries in medicine, biology and environmental scie...
Clarifying Misconceptions and Acknowledging Advantages of Next-Generation Sequencing in Forensic DNA Casework
Aug 30 2016
Honored to be a part of the Forensic DNA community for nearly a decade, I’ve witnessed what I would consider a rather slow evolution of technology. In recent years, I was ...