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
 Massively parallel sequencing of 89 microhaplotypes for the selection of an operational and effective subset for forensic applications.
Award Information
Awardee
              GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY, THE
Award #
              2017-DN-BX-0164
Funding Category
              Competitive Discretionary
Location
                    WASHINGTON, DC
Congressional District
              98
Status
              Closed
Funding First Awarded
              2017
Total funding (to date)
              $492,892
Original Solicitation
              NIJ FY17 Research and Development in Forensic Science for Criminal Justice Purposes
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2017, $492,892)
As submitted by the proposer:
The goal of this project is to massively parallel sequence 89 microhaplotypes (MHs) selected from previously-funded NIJ research, for the development of an effective subset for forensic applications. MHs are loci of two or more SNPs within a short distance from each other (<300 nucleotides) with three or more allelic combinations. MHs offer several advantages for forensic applications compared to conventional short tandem repeats (STRs) including no polymerase slippage during amplification resulting in absence of artifact stutter peaks, lower mutation rates, absence of preferential amplification of shorter alleles (MH alleles within a locus are all the same size), and can provide both  individualization and ancestry prediction.
The selected MHs will be sequenced on at least 400 individuals from four different populations (European Americans, African Americans, Hispanic, East Asians) and 78 families, 63 of which have two or more children. The 89 MHs have been selected from a larger set of 130 identified based on effective number of alleles (Ae) and ancestry informativeness (In). Samples will be analyzed using the Ion S5 massively parallel sequencing platform to confirm PHASE inferred allele frequencies, possible linkage between loci, possible presence of recombination hot spots, and mutation rates. In addition, bioinformatics analyses of the sequences in between the SNPs defining the MHs will allow identifying less common SNPs that could greatly increase the power of discrimination of a profile.
Complex mixtures are currently one of the greatest challenges in forensic DNA analyses and stutter peaks complicate their interpretation, particularly when the minor contributor is in the stutter peak height range of the major. A stutter free MH-based assay will complement conventional STR markers and enhance mixture deconvolution capabilities. Furthermore, the lower mutation rate compared to STRs will improve family relationship testing, and the greater In will provide ancestry information. Results of this project will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and by presentations and workshops at national and international forensic DNA conferences.
Note: This project contains a research and/or development component, as defined in applicable law, and complies with Part 200 Uniform Requirements - 2 CFR  200.210(a)(14).
ca/ncf



  
Grant-Funded Publications
        
                      Investigation of 74 microhaplotypes for kinship testing in US populations
                  A multipurpose panel of microhaplotypes for use with STR markers in casework
                  Investigation of 74 microhaplotypes for kinship testing in US populations
                  A sequence-based 74plex microhaplotype assay for analysis of forensic DNA mixtures
                  Population genetic data of 74 microhaplotypes in four major US population groups
                  Forensic Molecular Biomarkers for Mixture Analysis
                  A massively parallel sequencing assay of microhaplotypes for mixture deconvolution
                  Microhaplotypes in forensic genetics
                  Mixture Deconvolution by Massively Parallel Sequencing of Microhaplotypes

  
Date Created: September 29, 2017
    
          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
        
                      Quantifying the strength of support in fingerprint casework comparisons
                  Support Activities under Section 13(d) of Executive Order 14074: Workshops on Law Enforcement Use of Probabilistic DNA Technologies and Person-based Predictive Policing
                  Strengthening Scientific Foundations for Advancing Best Practices in the Collection, Storage, Analysis, and Interpretation of Organic and Inorganic Gunshot Residues
 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