| 1. |
- A.O., Tillmar, et al.
(author)
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Using X-chromosomal markers in relationship testing: Calculation of likelihood ratios taking both linkage and linkage disequilibrium into account
- 2011
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In: Forensic Science International: Genetics. - : Elsevier BV. - 1872-4973 .- 1878-0326. ; 5:5, s. 506-511
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- X-chromosomal markers in forensic genetics have become more widely used during recent years, particularly for relationship testing. Linkage and linkage disequilibrium (LD) must typically be accounted for when using close X-chromosomal markers. Thus, when producing the weight-of-evidence, given by a DNA-analysis with markers that are linked, the normally used product rule is invalid. Here we present an implementation of an efficient model for calculating likelihood ratios (LRs) with markers on the X-chromosome which are linked and in LD. Furthermore, the model was applied on several cases based on data from the eight X-chromosomal loci included in the Mentype® Argus X-8 (Biotype). Using a simulation approach we showed that the use of X-chromosome data can offer valuable information for choosing between the alternatives in each of the cases we studied, and that the LR can be high in several cases. We demonstrated that when linkage and LD were disregarded, as opposed to taken into account, the difference in calculated LRs could be considerable. When these differences were large, the estimated haplotype frequencies often had a strong impact and we present a method to estimate haplotype frequencies. Our conclusion is that linkage and LD should be accounted for when using the tested set of markers, and the used model is an efficient way of doing so.
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| 2. |
- Adolfsson, Emma, 1977-, et al.
(author)
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Technical in-depth comparison of two massive parallel DNA-sequencing methods for formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue from victims of sudden cardiac death
- 2021
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In: Forensic Science International. - : Elsevier. - 1872-4973 .- 1878-0326. ; 53
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a tragic and traumatic event. SCD is often associated with hereditary genetic disease and in such cases, sequencing of stored formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissue is often crucial in trying to find a causal genetic variant. This study was designed to compare two massive parallel sequencing assays for differences in sensitivity and precision regarding variants related to SCD in FFPE material. From eight cases of SCD where DNA from blood had been sequenced using HaloPlex, corresponding FFPE samples were collected six years later. DNA from FFPE samples were amplified using HaloPlex HS, sequenced on MiSeq, representing the first method, as well as amplified using modified Twist and sequenced on NextSeq, representing the second method. Molecular barcodes were included to distinguish artefacts from true variants. In both approaches, read coverage, uniformity and variant detection were compared using genomic DNA isolated from blood and corresponding FFPE tissue, respectively. In terms of coverage uniformity, Twist performed better than HaloPlex HS for FFPE samples. Despite higher overall coverage, amplicon-based HaloPlex technologies, both for blood and FFPE tissue, suffered from design and/or performance issues resulting in genes lacking complete coverage. Although Twist had considerably lower overall mean coverage, high uniformity resulted in equal or higher fraction of genes covered at ≥ 20X. By comparing variants found in the matched samples in a pre-defined cardiodiagnostic gene panel, HaloPlex HS for FFPE material resulted in high sensitivity, 98.0% (range 96.6-100%), and high precision, 99.9% (range 99.5-100%) for moderately fragmented samples, but suffered from reduced sensitivity (range 74.2-91.1%) in more severely fragmented samples due to lack of coverage. Twist had high sensitivity, 97.8% (range 96.8-98.7%) and high precision, 99.9% (range 99.3-100%) in all analyzed samples, including the severely fragmented samples.
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| 3. |
- Albinsson, Linda, et al.
(author)
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Swedish population data and concordance for the kits PowerPlexÒ ESX 16 System, PowerPlexÒ ESI 16 System, AmpFlSTRÒ NGMTM, AmpFlSTRÒ SGM PlusTM and Investigator ESSplex
- 2011
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In: Forensic Science International. - Clare, Irland : Elsevier. - 1872-4973 .- 1878-0326. ; 5:3, s. e89-e92
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Journal article (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The European Standard Set of loci (ESS) has been extended with five additional short tandem repeat (STR) loci following the recommendations of the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI) and the European DNA Profiling Group (EDNAP) to increase the number of loci routinely used by the European forensic community. Subsequently, a new extended Swedish population database, based on 425 individuals, has been assembled using the new STR multiplex kits commercially available.Allele frequencies and statistical parameters of forensic interest for 15 autosomal STR loci (D3S1358, TH01, D21S11, D18S51, D10S1248, D1S1656, D2S1338, D16S539, D22S1045, vWA, D8S1179, FGA, D2S441, D12S391 and D19S433) were obtained from the analysis of the PowerPlex® ESX 16 System kit (Promega Corporation, USA). According to the data no evidence of deviations from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium was found. The observed heterozygosity varies between 0.755 (TH01) and 0.892 (D1S1656). The power of discrimination was smallest for D22S1045 (0.869) and largest for D1S1656 (0.982) while the power of exclusion was smallest for TH01 (0.518) and largest for D1S1656 (0.778).A concordance study was performed on the five amplification systems: PowerPlex® ESX 16 System, PowerPlex® ESI 16 System (Promega Corporation, USA), AmpFlSTR® NGM™, AmpFlSTR® SGM Plus™ (Applied Biosystems, USA) and Investigator ESSplex (Qiagen, Germany) to reveal null alleles and other divergences between the kits. For the 425 DNA profiles included, AmpFlSTR® NGM™ revealed two null alleles, AmpFlSTR® SGM Plus™ revealed one, and Investigator ESSplex revealed a micro-variant, while the rest of the alleles showed full concordance between the kits tested.
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| 4. |
- Anderung, Cecilia, et al.
(author)
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Fishing for ancient DNA
- 2008
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In: Forensic Science International: Genetics. - : Elsevier BV. - 1872-4973. ; 2:2, s. 104-107
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The major problems concerning ancient DNA studies are related to the amount of extractable DNA and the precautions needed to avoid contamination. From the very first step of the analyses, the DNA extraction, these problems must be confronted. There are several extraction methods available for DNA in ancient tissue; several of them are complicated and time consuming. and none of the methods have reached an acceptance level such that they are routinely used on a widespread basis. Here we investigate the efficiency of two methods. one based on magnetic separation of the targeted molecules. and one based oil silica binding. The efficiency rate of these two on the material studied seems to be identical. The silica binding method has the benefit of relative simplicity, but the magnetic separation technique also hits advantages. For example, it is possible to reuse the extract several times for different loci, and it is possible to concentrate all extracted DNA from one locus into one PCR.
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| 5. |
- Andréasson, Hanna, et al.
(author)
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Forensic mitochondrial coding region analysis for increased discrimination using pyrosequencing technology
- 2007
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In: Forensic Science International. - : Elsevier BV. - 1872-4973 .- 1878-0326. ; 1:1, s. 35-43
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is very useful when nuclear DNA analysis fails due to degradation or insufficient amounts of DNA in forensic analysis. However, mtDNA analysis has a lower discrimination power compared to what can be obtained by nuclear DNA (nDNA) analysis, potentially resulting in multiple individuals showing identical mtDNA types in the HVI/HVII region. In this study, the increase in discrimination by analysis of mitochondrial coding regions has been evaluated for identical or similar HVI/HVII sequences. A pyrosequencing-based system for coding region analysis, comprising 17 pyrosequencing reactions performed on 15 PCR fragments, was utilised. This assay was evaluated in 135 samples, resulting in an average read length of 81 nucleotides in the pyrosequencing analysis. In the sample set, a total of 52 coding region SNPs were identified, of which 18 were singletons. In a group of 60 samples with 0 or 1 control region difference from the revised Cambridge reference sequence (rCRS), only 12 samples could not be resolved by at least two differences using the pyrosequencing assay. Thus, the use of this pyrosequencing-based coding region assay has the potential to substantially increase the discriminatory power of mtDNA analysis.
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| 6. |
- Bergseth, Erik F., et al.
(author)
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Extended population genetic analysis of 12 X-STRs - Exemplified using a Norwegian population sample
- 2022
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In: Forensic Science International. - : Elsevier Ireland Ltd. - 1872-4973 .- 1878-0326. ; 60
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The use of X-chromosomal markers to resolve questions of relatedness has experienced a significant increase during the last years in forensic genetics. Perhaps primarily due to the emergence of commercial kits, but equally important due to an increased awareness of the utility of those markers. The X-chromosomal inheritance pattern entails that some cases, for instance paternal half-sisters, can potentially be resolved using a few X-chromosomal markers alone. For the statistical assessment in kinship cases it is of importance to have relevant population frequency data. In the present study 631 unrelated males from a Norwegian population sample are analyzed. The resulting haplotypes are compared to previously studied population samples and a deeper analysis of the linkage disequilibrium (LD) structure is conducted. We demonstrate that the power to detect LD will be low when few males, say below 300, are analyzed. We use entropy to describe the degree of LD between multiallelic loci and describe how this measure varies between different studied populations. Large population frequency databases have been recommended when using X-chromosomal markers, and we show that by combining reference da-tabases from genetically similar populations, more precise haplotype frequency estimates can be obtained for rare haplotypes which improves the statistical assessment of the weight of evidence. In addition, we promote the use of simulations to assess the utility of STR markers in contrast to standard forensic parameters. Specifically we perform extensive simulations on cases where X-chromosomal markers are important and illustrate how the results can be used to infer the information gained from these markers.
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| 7. |
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| 8. |
- Bouakaze, Caroline, et al.
(author)
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Predicting haplogroups using a versatile machine learning program (PredYMaLe) on a new mutationally balanced 32 Y-STR multiplex (CombYplex) : Unlocking the full potential of the human STR mutation rate spectrum to estimate forensic parameters
- 2020
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In: Forensic Science International. - : Elsevier BV. - 1872-4973 .- 1878-0326. ; 48
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We developed a new mutationally well-balanced 32 Y-STR multiplex (CombYplex) together with a machine learning (ML) program PredYMaLe to assess the impact of STR mutability on haplogourp prediction, while respecting forensic community criteria (high DC/HD). We designed CombYplex around two sub-panels M1 and M2 characterized by average and high-mutation STR panels. Using these two sub-panels, we tested how our program PredYmale reacts to mutability when considering basal branches and, moving down, terminal branches. We tested first the discrimination capacity of CombYplex on 996 human samples using various forensic and statistical parameters and showed that its resolution is sufficient to separate haplogroup classes. In parallel, PredYMaLe was designed and used to test whether a ML approach can predict haplogroup classes from Y-STR profiles. Applied to our kit, SVM and Random Forest classifiers perform very well (average 97 %), better than Neural Network (average 91 %) and Bayesian methods (< 90 %). We observe heterogeneity in haplogroup assignation accuracy among classes, with most haplogroups having high prediction scores (99-100 %) and two (E1b1b and G) having lower scores (67 %). The small sample sizes of these classes explain the high tendency to misclassify the Y-profiles of these haplogroups; results were measurably improved as soon as more training data were added. We provide evidence that our ML approach is a robust method to accurately predict haplogroups when it is combined with a sufficient number of markers, well-balanced mutation rate Y-STR panels, and large ML training sets. Further research on confounding factors (such as CNV-STR or gene conversion) and ideal STR panels in regard to the branches analysed can be developed to help classifiers further optimize prediction scores.
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| 9. |
- Bus, Magdalena M., et al.
(author)
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Mitochondrial DNA analysis of a Viking age mass grave in Sweden
- 2019
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In: Forensic Science International. - : Elsevier BV. - 1872-4973 .- 1878-0326. ; 42, s. 268-274
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In 1998, a Viking Age mass grave was discovered and excavated at St. Laurence's churchyard in Sigtuna, Sweden. The excavated bones underwent osteoarchaeological analysis and were assigned to at least 19 individuals. Eleven skeletons showed sharp force trauma from bladed weapons. Mass graves are an unusual finding from this time period, making the burial context extraordinary. To investigate a possible maternal kinship among the individuals, bones and teeth from the skeletal remains were selected for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis. Sanger sequencing of short stretches of the hypervariable segments I and II (HVS-I and HVS-II) was performed. A subset of the samples was also analysed by massively parallel sequencing analysis (MPS) of the entire mtDNA genome using the Precision ID mtDNA Whole Genome Panel. A total of 15 unique and three shared mtDNA profiles were obtained. Based on a combination of genetic and archaeological data, we conclude that a minimum of 20 individuals was buried in the mass grave. The majority of the individuals were not maternally related. However, two possible pairs of siblings or mother-child relationships were identified. All individuals were assigned to West Eurasian haplogroups, with a predominance of haplogroup H. Although the remains showed an advanced level of DNA degradation, the combined use of Sanger sequencing and MPS with the Precision ID mtDNA Whole Genome Panel revealed at least partial mtDNA data for all samples.
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| 10. |
- Chaitanya, Lakshmi, et al.
(author)
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Collaborative EDNAP exercise on the IrisPlex system for DNA based prediction of human eye colour
- 2014
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In: Forensic Science International. - : Elsevier. - 1872-4973 .- 1878-0326. ; 11, s. 241-251
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The IrisPlex system is a DNA-based test system for the prediction of human eye colour from biological samples and consists of a single forensically validated multiplex genotyping assay together with a statistical prediction model that is based on genotypes and phenotypes from thousands of individuals. IrisPlex predicts blue and brown human eye colour with, on average, >94% precision accuracy using six of the currently most eye colour informative single nucleotide polymorphisms (HERC2 rs12913832, OCA2 rs1800407, SLC24A4 rs12896399, SLC45A2 (MATP) rs16891982, TYR rs1393350, and IRF4 rs12203592) according to a previous study, while the accuracy in predicting non-blue and non-brown eye colours is considerably lower. In an effort to vigorously assess the IrisPlex system at the international level, testing was performed by 21 laboratories in the context of a collaborative exercise divided into three tasks and organised by the European DNA Profiling (EDNAP) Group of the International Society of Forensic Genetics (ISFG). Task 1 involved the assessment of 10 blood and saliva samples provided on FTA cards by the organising laboratory together with eye colour phenotypes; 99.4% of the genotypes were correctly reported and 99% of the eye colour phenotypes were correctly predicted. Task 2 involved the assessment of 5 DNA samples extracted by the host laboratory from simulated casework samples, artificially degraded, and provided to the participants in varying DNA concentrations. For this task, 98.7% of the genotypes were correctly determined and 96.2% of eye colour phenotypes were correctly inferred. For Tasks 1 and 2 together, 99.2% (1875) of the 1890 genotypes were correctly generated and of the 15 (0.8%) incorrect genotype calls, only 2 (0.1%) resulted in incorrect eye colour phenotypes. The voluntary Task 3 involved participants choosing their own test subjects for IrisPlex genotyping and eye colour phenotype inference, while eye photographs were provided to the organising laboratory and judged; 96% of the eye colour phenotypes were inferred correctly across 100 samples and 19 laboratories. The high success rates in genotyping and eye colour phenotyping clearly demonstrate the reproducibility and the robustness of the IrisPlex assay as well as the accuracy of the IrisPlex model to predict blue and brown eye colour from DNA. Additionally, this study demonstrates the ease with which the IrisPlex system is implementable and applicable across forensic laboratories around the world with varying pre-existing experiences.
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