A number of general tools are being developed to aid State and local forensic DNA laboratories. Studies have been performed or are ongoing to improve the efficiency of casework, to examine population variation with forensic DNA markers, to evaluate different DNA storage media, to assess capabilities of DNA in ascertaining human pigmentation or time since deposition from crime scene samples, and to examine the costs of blind proficiency testing. In addition, valuable information is being made available to aid forensic practitioners, researchers, and officers of the court through Internet resources such as STRBase (http://www.cstl.nist.gov/biotech/strbase/).


From research sponsored by the National Institute of Justice

Current projects

Application of Proteinases for DNA Isolation of Bone Specimens
Indiana University
Award Number: 2006-DN-BX-K010

DNA Quantitation, STR Microvariant, Allele Sequencing, STRBase Updates, SNP and STR Mutiplexing
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Award Number: 2003-IJ-R-029

Analysis of DNA Forensic Markers Using High Throughput Mass Spectrometry
Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Award Number: 2006-DN-BX-K011

Improving the Efficiency of DNA Casework Analysis through Simple, Effective PCR-based Screening Methods
Vermont Department of Public Safety
Award Number: 2005-DA-BX-K003

Determination of the Age (Time Since Deposition) of a Biological Stain
University of Central Florida
Award Number: 2005-MU-BX-K071

Forensic Stain Identification by Real Time PCR Analysis
Vermont Department of Public Safety
Award Number: 2004-DN-BX-K002

DNA Research in Support of Crime Laboratory Improvement
University of Connecticut
Award Number: 2003-IJ-CX-K026

Recently Closed

Bayesian Networks in Forensic Science: Adding an Evolutionary Perspective
North Carolina State University
Award Number: 2004-DN-BX-K006

Research, Development and Evaluation Studies by the NIST Human Project Team

Evaluation of Genetic Variation in Major U.S. Population Groups Using Human Identity Testing Markers
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Award Numbers: 1999-IJ-R-A094 and 2003-IJ-R-029

AutoDimer: Software Developed to Enable Rapid Multiplex PCR Design
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Award Numbers: 1999-IJ-R-A094 and 2003-IJ-R-029

From research sponsored by the National Institute of Justice

Multiplex_QA: an exploratory quality assessment tool for multiplexed electrophoretic assays.
Dueler DL, Butler JM.
Electrophoresis. 2006 Oct;27(19):3735-46.
View Pub Med Entry
Grant number: 2003-IJ-R-029

Genetics and genomics of core short tandem repeat loci used in human identity testing.
Butler JM.
J Forensic Sci 2006 Mar; 51(2):253-65
Vew Pub Med Endry
Grant number: 2003-IJ-R-025
 
Results from the NIST 2004 DNA Quantitation Study.
Kline MC, Duewer DL, Redman JW, Butler JM.
J Forensic Sci. 2005 May;50(3):570-8.
Grant number: 2003-IJ-R-029
 
NIST mixed stain study 3: signal intensity balance in commercial short tandem repeat multiplexes.
Duewer DL, Kline MC, Redman JW, Butler JM
Anal Chem. 2004 Dec 1;76(23):6928-34
Grant number: 1999-IJ-R-A094
 
AutoDimer: a screening tool for primer-dimer and hairpin structures.
Vallone PM and Butler JM
Biotechniques. 2004 Aug;37(2):226-31.
Grant number: 1999-IJ-R-A094
 
Constructing STR Multiplex Assays.
Butler JM
Methods Mol Biol. 2004;297:53-66.
Grant number: 1999-IJ-R-A094
 
NIST Mixed Stain Study 3: DNA quantitation accuracy and its influence on short tandem repeat multiplex signal intensity.
Kline MC, Duewer DL, Redman JW, Butler JM.
Anal Chem. 2003 May 15;75(10):2463-9.
Grant number: 1999-IJ-R-A094
 
Extraction and analysis of human nuclear and mitochondrial DNA from electron beam irradiated envelopes.
Withrow AG, Sikorsky J, Downs JC, Fenger T.
J Forensic Sci. 2003 Nov;48(6):1302-8.
Grant number: 2001-RC-CX-K002
 
SLLP1, a unique, intra-acrosomal, non-bacteriolytic, c lysozyme-like protein of human spermatozoa.
Mandal A, Klotz KL, Shetty J, Jayes FL, Wolkowicz MJ, Bolling LC, Coonrod SA, Black MB, Diekman AB, Haystead TA, Flickinger CJ, Herr JC.
Biol Reprod. 2003 May;68(5):1525-37. Epub 2002 Nov 27.
Grant number: 2000-IJ-CX-K013
 
SAMP14, a novel, acrosomal membrane-associated, glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored member of the Ly-6/urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor superfamily with a role in sperm-egg interaction.
Shetty J, Wolkowicz MJ, Digilio LC, Klotz KL, Jayes FL, Diekman AB, Westbrook VA, Farris EM, Hao Z, Coonrod SA, Flickinger CJ, Herr JC.
J Biol Chem. 2003 Aug 15;278(33):30506-15. Epub 2003 Jun 04.
Grant number: 2000-IJ-CX-K013
 
The feasibility of external blind DNA proficiency testing. I. Background and findings
Peterson JL, Crim D, Lin G, Ho M, Chen Y, Gaensslen RE
J Forensic Sci Jan 2003, vol. 48, No. 1, 21-31
Grant number: 1996-DN-VX-0001
 
The feasibility of external blind DNA proficiency testing. II. Experience with actual blind tests
Peterson JL, Crim D, Lin G, Ho M, Chen Y, Gaensslen RE
J Forensic Sci Jan 2003, vol. 48, No. 1, 32-40
Grant number: 1996-DN-VX-0001
 
Allele frequencies for 15 autosomal STR loci on U.S. Caucasian, African American, and Hispanic populations.
Butler JM, Schoske R, Vallone PM, Redman JW, Kline MC.
J Forensic Sci. 2003 Jul;48(4):908-11.
Grant number: 1999-IJ-R-A094
 
Effect of sample preparation and pH-mediated sample stacking on the analysis of multiplexed short tandem repeats by capillary electrophoresis.
Crivellente F, McCord BR.
J Capillary Electrophor. 2002;7(3-4):73-80.
Grant number: 1999-IJ-CX-K014
 
Polymerase chain reaction amplification of DNA from aged blood stains: quantitative evaluation of the "suitability for purpose" of four filter papers as archival media.
Kline MC, Duewer DL, Redman JW, Butler JM, Boyer DA.
Anal Chem. 2002 Apr 15;74(8):1863-9.
Grant number: 1999-IJ-R-A094
 
A strategy for examining complex mixtures of deoxyoligonucleotides using ion-pair-reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, and informatics.
Vallone PM, Devaney JM, Marino MA, Butler JM
Anal Biochem. 2002 May 15;304(2):257-65.
Grant number: 1999-IJ-R-A094
 
Temperature and pH studies of short tandem repeat systems using capillary electrophoresis at elevated pH.
Nock T, Dove J, McCord B, Mao D.
Electrophoresis. 2001;22(4):755-62.
Grant number: 1999-IJ-CX-K014
 
Linear mixture analysis: a mathematical approach to resolving mixed DNA samples.
Perlin MW, Szabady B.
J Forensic Sci. 2001 Nov;46(6):1372-8.
Grant number: 2001-IJ-CX-K003
 
Capillary electrophoresis as a tool for optimization of multiplex PCR reactions.
Butler JM, Ruitberg CM, Vallone PM.
Fresenius J Anal Chem. 2001 Feb;369(3-4):200-5.
Grant number: 1999-IJ-R-A094
 
Quality control of PCR primers used in multiplex STR amplification reactions.
Butler JM, Devaney JM, Marino MA, Vallone PM.
Forensic Sci Int. 2001 Jun 1;119(1):87-96.
Grant number: 1999-IJ-R-A094
 
STRBase: a short tandem repeat DNA database for the human identity testing community.
Ruitberg CM, Reeder DJ, Butler JM.
Nucleic Acids Res. 2001 Jan 1;29(1):320-2.
Grant number: 1999-IJ-R-A094
 
Genotyping of two mutations in the HFE gene using single-base extension and high-performance liquid chromatography.
Devaney JM, Pettit EL, Kaler SG, Vallone PM, Butler JM, Marino MA.
Anal Chem. 2001 Feb 1;73(3):620-4.
Grant number: 1999-IJ-R-A094
 
World population data for the HLA-DQA1, PM and D1S80 loci with least and most common profile frequencies for combinations of loci estimated following NRC II guidelines.
Peterson BL, Su B, Chakraborty R, Budowle B, Gaensslen RE.
J Forensic Sci. 2000 Jan;45(1):118-46.
Grant number: 1998-VB-R-018