Forensic Genomics
Focused Forensic Power
More conclusive results in forensic testing are now a practical reality thanks to advances in genomics. Illumina next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology and informatics deliver far more insight from forensic DNA than traditional PCR and capillary electrophoresis (CE) methods, with a much higher resolution than ever before possible. You’ll find the answers you need efficiently with a greater degree of certainty, with the focused power of NGS-based forensic genomics approaches.
Massively Parallel Sequencing – The Time is Now
Hear from experts in the field how massively parallel NGS technology is paving the way ahead and why now is the time to adopt.
Benefits of NGS for Forensic Labs
NGS allows examiners to generate data that span the human genome and address a wider range of questions in a single, targeted assay. Moreover, NGS-generated short tandem repeat (STR) calls are fully compatible with current database formats. NGS can also target single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) marker sets not routinely available with traditional CE-based methods, and assess forensic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Studies provide a promising view of the advantages NGS brings to analysis of even the smallest, most compromised, and highly mixed evidentiary samples.
Overview: NGS and Forensic Genomics
Find out more about how NGS works. Learn about the advantages of NGS over PCR and CE technologies for forensic analysis applications.
Illumina Forensic Technology Now Available from Verogen
Illumina and Telegraph Hill Partners launched Verogen, Inc. to drive adoption of NGS in the global forensic genomics market. The independent new company has certain exclusive rights to provide Illumina forensic sequencing technology to forensic customers. Verogen is now the sole provider of the MiSeq FGx Forensic Genomics System and associated products, and has global commercial rights to these products.
NGS-Based Forensic Genomics Applications
Criminal Casework
Targeted sequencing of forensically relevant STR and SNP loci empowers generation of leads, even on cold cases. With NGS, crime laboratories can address hundreds of markers in a single test. This lets labs develop a more thorough, detailed profile from degraded, mixed, and limited DNA samples.
Forensic DNA Databases
Millions of DNA profiles are curated in national DNA databases. NGS can help labs produce high-quality forensic DNA profiles more efficiently. Because this technology analyzes multiple marker sets simultaneously, rather than sequentially, there is a faster turnaround than for older methods such as CE and PCR.
Disaster Victim Identification
The goal of genetic analysis of evidence from a mass fatality is to extract as much information as possible from highly compromised samples. NGS sets no relevant limit on the number of loci you can analyze in one test. Achieve high resolution and exceptional accuracy from extremely low quantities of DNA.
Missing Person Identification
NGS offers a massively parallel approach for sequencing forensic PCR amplicons, both nuclear and mitochondrial. This technology enables scientists to utilize a single platform and optimal workflow to overcome the widest range of difficult samples often encountered in missing persons cases.
Forensic SNP and STR Sequencing
Targeted NGS relieves many of the limitations of forensic genotyping based on fragment length detection. Unlike CE typing, NGS does not require multiple forensic STR analysis kits. NGS enables SNP and STR analysis for large numbers of globally relevant STR markers and dense SNP sets in a single forensic DNA test.
Forensic mtDNA Analysis
Because mtDNA is found in higher copy number per cell than nuclear DNA, it can survive environments where nuclear DNA does not, and can be a powerful tool for human identification. NGS provides deep coverage to extract genetic data from small forensic mtDNA samples found in less than ideal condition.
Solving More Cold Cases with NGS
Othram, Inc. uses next-generation sequencing with the NovaSeq System to help convert more cases from cold to solved. Recent successes include a 44-year-old murder case that was solved in a matter of weeks.
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Developmental Validation of NGS for Forensic Genomics
View the data validating targeted NGS for forensic DNA casework and database labs. See how the technology meets quality assurance guidelines with reliable, reproducible performance on samples of various quantities and qualities.
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How Forensics Experts Use NGS
Recreating a Face Based on DNA
Researchers identify genetic variants that influence facial features to enable facial imaging from DNA.
Future of Forensic Genomics
Researchers use NGS to obtain more information-rich data and answer more complex forensic questions.
Harnessing NGS to Solve Crimes
Criminalists use NGS technology for high-resolution DNA profiling to build better forensic DNA databases.