Recent Developments in Forensic DNA Technology

The current standard of forensic DNA analysis is genotyping the length polymorphism of STR loci by capillary electrophoresis and analyzing the polymorphism of mitochondrial DNA by Sanger sequencing. However, the trend of dramatic technological developments begun in the mid 1980s has continued, with the most consequential recent innovations being (1) the development of next generation sequencing (NGS) or massively parallel sequencing (MPS) and (2) the implementation of commercial Rapid DNA instruments that automate genotyping of all CODIS core STR loci from sample to profile in 90 minutes. This chapter reviews the principles, benefits, and applications of NGS or MPS technology, with a focus on the critical features of massively parallel and clonal sequencing and the ability to perform quantitative analysis of mixtures. The potential to analyze degraded DNA by using NGS/MPS to sequence mitochondrial DNA and SNPs is discussed, as are the benefits and limitations of Rapid DNA instruments.