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Summary
The goal of the Forensic Genetics Project Team is to support accuracy and reliability in the forensic DNA typing community by producing DNA-based reference materials, characterization of forensically relevant genetic markers, and assessment of emerging technologies. Our deliverables impact and support commercial vendors of DNA typing equipment, law enforcement agencies, kinship testing laboratories, and academic researchers.
Description
Automated DNA extraction instruments prepare and purify DNA from cells. The extracted DNA can then be tested with various methods.
Since the late 1980s, NIST has had scientists involved in DNA testing (aka "DNA Fingerprinting"). Early concerns over measurement accuracy and poor quality control of forensic DNA tests caused the Department of Justice to call upon NIST scientists to help with standards development and technology evaluation. Since 2013, the Forensic Genetics Project Team has been part of the Applied Genetics of the Biomolecular Measurements Division at NIST.
Our work is primarily nucleic acid-based and focuses on characterizing genetic polymorphisms. We utilize capillary electrophoresis and DNA sequencers to characterize size and sequence polymorphisms. Variations of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique, such as rapid PCR, multiplex PCR, real-time PCR, and digital PCR, are used to genotype, sequence, and provide quantitative information pertaining to the human genome.
Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) developed by the Forensic Genetics Project Team enable accurate measurements of short tandem repeats (STRs) commonly used in the fields of human identity, kinship, and law enforcement DNA testing.
The NIST website STRBase ("star-base") also hosts detailed content curated by Forensic Genetics Project Team members. This includes forensically- related NIST publications, oral and poster presentations, workshops, U.S. population data for genetic markers, sample data sets, general forensic topics, and supporting information pertaining to Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) of interest to the Forensic DNA community.