Forensic DNA: The Beginning of the SNP Era

The field of forensics is constantly evolving. While short tandem repeats (STRs) are currently used in all forensic DNA laboratories for human identification, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have emerged as new markers of interest. These new markers present several benefits, including the ability to analyze smaller DNA fragments, the ancestral and phenotypic information they may carry, and the ability to distinguish STRs of the same size. New technologies for genotyping SNPs have been developed in the recent years, and they will continue to advance for many years to come.

This webinar series will dive into using SNPs for forensic applications and discuss recent advances in the field. Topics will include using SNPs for human identification, ancestry prediction, pigmentation, and craniofacial morphology, microhaplotypes for forensic applications, and methylation for age prediction.

Collaborators and Funding

Forensic DNA: The Beginning of the SNP Era is brought to you by the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence in collaboration with George Washington University (GW), under key personnel Dr. Daniele Podini.

Dr. Podini is a forensic DNA expert whose current research focuses on microhaplotypes (clusters of SNPs) and on the use of next generation technologies for human identification purposes. His forensic experience ranges from processing crime scenes for biological specimens to processing evidence in the laboratory, and from DNA profiling to testifying in court as an expert witness. Dr. Podini has been on the faculty of the Department of Forensic Sciences at GW since 2004. He is also a member the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and the International Society of Forensic Genetics, and serves as a member of the Subcommittee on DNA Analysis 1 of the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) to aid efforts in strengthening forensic sciences in the United States.