U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Funding & Awards
 Typing Highly Degraded DNA Using Circularized Molecules and Target Enrichment
Award Information
Awardee
              University of North Texas Health Science Center
Award #
              2016-DN-BX-0154
Funding Category
              Competitive
Location
                    Fort Worth, TX
Awardee County
              Tarrant
Congressional District
              12
Status
              Closed
Funding First Awarded
              2016
Total funding (to date)
              $682,474
Original Solicitation
              Research and Development in Forensic Science for Criminal Justice Purposes
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2016, $682,474)
As submitted by the proposer:
Due to the expansion of biological evidence presented to forensic laboratories, DNA samples analyzed today can be highly degraded, limited in quantity and/or present as complex mixtures. Although there is substantial evidence that falls into this category of challenged samples, there are few if any options for the analyst to extract genetic information from such evidence. Yet the demands to rely on DNA analyses are increasing. With complex mixtures, a portion of profiles are being deemed inconclusive or have low statistical strength. There is a need to develop systems that can analyze severely compromised samples and if possible make mixtures less complicated. This proposal seeks to employ molecular biology tools and novel procedures associated with the advances of massively parallel sequencing (MPS) to enable analysis of degraded DNA. The concept is that genetic markers within highly degraded DNA fragments can be selected away from non-target DNA by a capture technique. These enriched fragments then can be converted into small circles that are ideal for serving as templates to be copied many times by rolling circle amplification (RCA). RCA is a highly robust process for amplifying DNA, but until now could not be used on highly degraded linear DNA fragments. Circularization of degraded DNA changes everything as a circle essentially is an infinite linear molecule ideal for RCA. The methodology workflow would be capture target markers, circularize the highly degraded fragments, copy the circles carrying human identity markers, and sequence the amplified products by MPS. The procedure also would be tested by switching the order with circularization first and then capture. Another approach is use of molecular inversion probes (MIP) that are highly specific for target markers and form circles if they bind to the target marker template. Contained within the MIP are universal PCR primers that provide standard and robust PCR amplification. These two methods should enable analysis of highly degraded DNA. The
MIP method holds promise of being highly specific and sensitive. The circle/RCA method holds promise for sensitivity of detection but more importantly may preferentially detect degraded (minor contributors) in complex mixtures, a capability not yet possible by any other means. These methods will enable analyses of the most challenging samples, enhancing chances of successful typing of touch DNA, cold case evidence, low level male components from rape cases, and human remains from mass disasters, missing persons cases, and acts of terrorism.

Note:  This project contains a research and/or development component, as defined in applicable law.
ca/ncf



  
Grant-Funded Publications
        
                      Reverse Complement PCR: A novel one-step PCR system for typing highly degraded DNA for human identification
                  Rolling circle amplification: A (random) primer on the enrichment of an infinite linear DNA template
                  Typing Highly Degraded DNA Using Circularized Molecules and Target Enrichment

  
Date Created: September 13, 2016
    
          Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              Current Funding
    
      
            
            
            
      Forthcoming Funding
    
      
            
            
            
      Expired Funding
    
      
            
            
            
      Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
    
      
            
            
            
      Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
    
      
            
            
            
      Fellowship & Student Programs
    
      
            
            
            
      Travel Scholarships
    
      
            
            
            
      NIJ Challenge ProgramSimilar Awards
        
                      Study of Factors Influencing Mass Spectral Data Comparison
                  Comprehensive Evaluation of Kinetic and Thermodynamic Approaches to Predict Evaporation of Ignitable Liquids for Fire Debris Applications
                  Using Community-Based Participatory Research to Advance Transformative Credible Messenger Mentoring for Justice-Involved Youth of Color
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov