Applications of massively parallel sequencing in forensic genetics

Abstract

In forensic genetics, massively parallel sequencing (MPS) has become a realistic alternative to the standard capillary elec-trophoresis. MPS has the potential to both improve DNA-profiling and to provide information beyond the standard DNA-profile. Eirik Nataas Hanssen et al have made efforts to solve two forensic problems by using MPS. Information on type of body fluid can link a DNA-profile closer to the criminal act. However, there is need for new alterna-tives to the traditional tests. Hanssen et al have developed a method that uses microbial composition determined by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and pattern recognition. By using an optimized data handling workflow, the overall accuracy for oral, vaginal, fecal, nasal and skin samples was 96%. Degradation can obstruct the DNA-analysis completely if severe enough. Hanssen et al performed whole genome sequenc-ing on degraded samples and used the sequencing coverage to measure the degradation level. They found that DNA de-grades at an even rate throughout the genome. Even though this finding put a stop to the original intention to target robust regions in order to develop an optimized analysis for degraded DNA, this is still valuable new knowledge.