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
 Better Forensic Markers: Microhaplotypes and Ancestry SNPs
Award Information
Awardee
              YALE UNIVERSITY
Award #
              2018-75-CX-0041
Funding Category
              Competitive Discretionary
Location
                    NEW HAVEN, CT
Congressional District
              3
Status
              Closed
Funding First Awarded
              2018
Total funding (to date)
              $1,083,499
Original Solicitation
              NIJ FY18 Research and Development in Forensic Science for Criminal Justice Purposes
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2018, $1,083,499)
Kidd lab has studied single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) since the early 1980s, and began advocating use of SNPs in forensics about 15 years ago. SNPs (as a panel of individual SNPs or assembled into Microhaplotypes) are now generally recognized as important in the future of forensic practice because they can provide more information than the conventional short tandem repeat (STR) polymorphisms (STRPs) (e.g. CODIS markers). With the revolution in forensic methodology from capillary electrophoresis (CE) to massively parallel sequencing (MPS), SNPs and STRPs can be multiplexed using a single technology. In 2007, we defined four types of SNP panels for use in forensics: IISNPs for individual identification, AISNPs for ancestry inference, PISNPs for phenotype (visible trait) inference, and LISNPs for lineage/family/clan inference. Using our unique resources of population samples and accumulated data on themnearly 3,000 individuals typed for several hundred up to 5,000 SNPswe propose to continue looking for better AISNPs for improved ability to assign an individuals ancestry to ever more refined regions. We will use TaqMan to genotype our samples for SNPs that appear to be good candidates for these objectives. We will also focus on improving the available microhaplotypes, by identifying additional SNPs within the region of some of our existing 182 microhaplotypes as well as by searching the public databases for candidates that may be significant better than the existing loci we have characterized on up to 96 populations. TaqMan will also be used to obtain some initial sense of what microhaps are most promising.
We propose a major emphasis on improving the available set of microhaplotype loci to provide (1) better individualization measured as random match probability (RMP); (2) better resolution of mixtures; and (3) better inference of ancestry and LISNPs. Then we will turn to MPS of the 100 best candidates to provide complete documentation of the variation in each of the 100 microhap segments. With MPS we are able to identify currently known SNPs within existing microhaplotypes including those we cannot type by TaqMan as well as rare and uncommon, even previously unknown, SNPs. We will multiplex 100 microhaps for paired-end sequencing on a MiSeq sequencer. The MPS technology will allow identification of otherwise cryptic variants that may exist in one or few populations. It is these rare variants/polymorphisms that may be most useful for what follows.
With this improved knowledge, we are in a better position to increase the utility of SNP and microhaplotype panels. We have demonstrated the feasibility of microhaplotypes (200-300pb in length) to detect DNA mixtures in case samples; the same criteria apply to familial studies. Thus, it is clear that better microhaplotypes will be of great importance in resolving the common problem of mixtures of DNA at crime scenes and provide great power at identification of familial relationships in mass disaster and missing person situations. This project will provide important new and improved tools for forensics made possible by our unique collection of population samples and data resources.
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
        
                      North Asian population relationships in a global context
                  A multipurpose panel of microhaplotypes for use with STR markers in casework
                  Better Forensic Markers: Microhaplotypes and Ancestry SNPs
                  The population genetics characteristics of a 90 locus panel of microhaplotypes
                  STAT3 polymorphisms in North Africa and its implication in breast cancer
                  Genetic relationships of Southwest Asian and Mediterranean populations
                  Validation of novel forensic DNA markers using multiplex microhaplotype sequencing
                  A sequence-based 74plex microhaplotype assay for analysis of forensic DNA mixtures
                  FrogAncestryCalc: A standalone batch likelihood computation tool for ancestry inference panels catalogued in FROG-kb
                  Population genetic data of 74 microhaplotypes in four major US population groups
                  The distinctive geographic patterns of common pigmentation variants at the OCA2 gene
                  Population relationships based on 170 ancestry SNPs from the combined Kidd and Seldin panels
                  Population relationships based on 170 ancestry SNPs from the combined Kidd and Seldin panels.
                  Usefulness of COMT gene polymorphisms in North African populations

  
Date Created: September 27, 2018
    
          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
        
                      NIJ co-sponsorship of the Center for Advanced Research in Forensic Science (CARFS)
                  Comprehensive Evaluation of Kinetic and Thermodynamic Approaches to Predict Evaporation of Ignitable Liquids for Fire Debris Applications
                  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