BMFS Student Joseph Iacona awarded the Carol DeForest Forensic Science Research Grant
BMFS student Joseph Iacona has been awarded the 2012 Carol DeForest Forensic Science Research Grant for his proposal entitled Streptavidin-Biotin Binding of DNA Amplicons for the Typing and Re-typing of Forensically Relevant Short Tandem Repeats.
“The purpose of this project is to develop a method by which a DNA target that has already undergone the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can be re-amplified. This will be accomplished by removal of the amplicons and PCR components allowing for sequestration of the original DNA template such that it is available for re-amplification with additional human identification chemistry. Using this technique would allow forensic DNA analysts to genotype limited or exhaustive samples multiple times with various kits/chemistries without the need for additional extraction or evidence processing. This approach would have substantial positive implications for forensic DNA identity testing because it would enable
1) the testing of both autosomal- and Y- STRs on limited sexual assault samples,
2) reamplification of evidentiary samples with mini-STRs or a modified amplification scheme (i.e. more Taq polymerase, more BSA, etc.) if it becomes apparent that the DNA was degraded/damaged or PCR inhibition occurred, and
3) the re-amplification of a limited sample after an amplification failure or for purposes of consensus profiling”
