Enhancing Forensic Investigations with Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)
NGS Technology Offers Several Advantages
- Increased power of discrimination: More data across the 20 CODIS Core Loci.
- Improved performance: Effective with degraded DNA, low quantity DNA, or complex mixtures.
- Phenotype, ancestry, genealogy, and parentage inference
- High-throughput efficiency
Applications of NGS in Forensics
Nuclear DNA Analysis
- Provides size- and sequence-based info for identity markers.
- Suitable for both high-quality and degraded samples.
- Case Types: Criminal investigations
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) Analysis
- Used when nuclear DNA is absent or degraded.
- Provides maternal lineage info.
- Case Types: Missing persons, unidentified remains, mass disasters
Externally Visible Characteristics Prediction
- Predicts physical traits using SNP markers.
- Case Types: Missing persons, unidentified remains, mass disasters
Kinship Testing
- Interprets relatedness using SNP markers.
- Case Types: Cold cases, mass disasters, paternity testing, forensic genealogy
ForenSeq DNA Signature Prep Kit Includes:
- Global Autosomal STRs
- Y-STRs
- X-STRs
- Identity SNPs
- Biogeographical Ancestry SNPs
- Phenotypic SNPs
Investigation Workflow
- Search Database
- Hit / No Hit
- Suspect Included / Excluded
- Report
- Investigative Leads
MiSeq FGx™ Forensic Genomics System
Ampath Laboratories is the first ISO 17025 accredited DNA testing lab in South Africa offering NGS-based forensic testing using the Illumina MiSeq FGx™ System.
Uses the ForenSeq DNA Signature Prep Kit for a streamlined forensic workflow.
Contact: forensicgenetics@ampath.co.za