Applied 

Genetics

STRBase and Information 

Resources on Forensic DNA

John M. Butler

NIST Fellow & Applied Genetics Group Leader

Forensics@NIST 2012 Meeting

Gaithersburg, MD

November 28, 2012
Applied 

Genetics Information Gathering and Sharing

• We live in the information age and need to share 

what we learn as scientists with others

• Sharing information impacts validation of techniques, 

which impact court use of the technique

• DNA is often referred to as the “gold standard” in 

forensic science because of the scientific studies 

performed and information sharing that has occurred

• You need a good library (information collection) to 

be successful in developing any scientific discipline

• Knowing the literature provides a solid foundation for 

research and future work
Applied 

Genetics Presentation Outline

Information Input

• Information gathering efforts within our group

• Forensic DNA literature

• Meetings where we learn from others (& present)

Information Output

• STRBase website – its origin and content

• Training workshops

• Forensic DNA Typing textbooks

Committee contributions
Applied 

Genetics Forensic DNA Library

Books Located in 227/B250 and B224

Have purchased >300 books on topics related to 

forensic DNA analysis as of November 2012

Initially funded from 2002-2007 by PECASE award money
Applied 

Genetics Collection of Journals in Our Group Library

We now have on-line access to all forensic DNA journals
Applied 

Genetics

Journal of Forensic Sciences

DNA publications vs total articles

0 3 0

6 9 11 14 15 18 26 34 35 43 44 43 51

66

77

124

108

92 93

68

49

117122

134135

107

130140144147

129

147146

163

184

170

249255 260

280271274

248

263

274

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008

Year

DNA articles Total articles

From PubMed searches performed Feb 2009 using http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez 

Number of Articles

2003

44%

The first DNA articles
Applied 

Genetics

http://www.fbi.gov/hq/lab/fsc/

current/backissu.htm

Forensic Science Publications
Applied 

Genetics

>9,000 references 

gathered and cataloged 

in Reference Manager

Comprehensive set of 

forensic DNA articles

Our Project Team Library

•Started by Christian Ruitberg

•Maintained now by John Butler

•Updated regularly and provided to 

NIST Human Identity Project Team
Applied 

Genetics

We Attend & Contribute Each Year to 

Numerous Scientific Meetings

International Society 

of Forensic Genetics

National CODIS 

Conference

AAFS

SWGDAM
Applied 

Genetics AAFS 2009 Topics Regarding Forensic DNA

• Improved DNA extraction

• Predicting hair color and 

ancestry with SNPs

• X-chromosome STRs

• Familial searching

• Y-STRs and mixtures

• Low level DNA samples

• miniSTRs

• DNA screening assays

• Optimizing database labs

• Microfluidic biochip systems

• Use with property crimes

• Recovery from handguns

• DNA from IEDs

• Expert systems

• Automation with robotics

• DNA quantitation – qPCR

• PCR directly from blood

• mtDNA

• RNA

• Non-human DNA (dogs & cows)

• Mixture interpretation

From abstracts of presentations at AAFS meeting in Denver, CO (Feb 2009)
Applied 

Genetics Collection of Notes from Meetings Attended

Detailed notes are taken at every meeting we attend 

and shared with the group when we return to NIST 

(presentations are made to our group at the next group meeting)
Applied 

Genetics

Good information input improves output...

Some Fruits of a Good Literature Collection

Review Articles Textbooks

2

nd Edition 688 pp.

Feb 2005

Analytical Chemistry (June 15, 2007 issue)
Applied 

Genetics And a Useful Reference Website...
Applied 

Genetics NIST STRBase Website

Serving the Forensic DNA Community for >15 Years

http://www.cstl.nist.gov/strbase/
Applied 

Genetics A Brief History of the STRBase Website

• Initial information was collected on STR markers while 

working on my PhD dissertation in 1993-1995

• Started a review article in 1996 while a NIST postdoc but 

wanted to create a dynamic rather than an out-of-date 

resource

• Created hundreds of individual web pages that were 

hyperlinked together

• Website launched in July 1997

• Became a NIST Standard Reference Database (SRD 

130) because of its high visibility

• I continue to update the website (via an HTML 

editor)...
Applied 

Genetics Benefits of Website like STRBase

• Develops expertise when collecting information

• Requires NIST to stay up-to-date with field

• Provides transparency to our team’s work

• Training tool and resource for the world

• Respected resource for >15 years

• ~10,000 pages of information available now

• >450,000 hits cumulative

• Method for sharing information (PowerPoint 

files, population data, etc.)

http://www.cstl.nist.gov/strbase

STRBase be a model for other forensic disciplines in sharing 

information with the forensic science community
Applied 

Genetics

Review of Some Recent STRBase Additions

now 3687 references
Applied 

Genetics Information on Variant Alleles

• We collect contributions from all over the world where 

unusual results have been observed with STR data

• Enables laboratories to check if others have seen a 

specific variant allele or tri-allelic pattern

• Currently (as of Oct 31, 2012 update)

657 variants at 41 loci

326 tri-allelic patterns at 33 loci

From D2S1338 Variants Table (http://www.cstl.nist.gov/strbase/var_D2S1338.htm)

Type 1 tri-allelic pattern

D18S51

http://www.cstl.nist.gov/strbase/var_tab.htm
Applied 

Genetics Mixture Section of STRBase

• Training workshop slides 

(thousands of slides of training 

materials available from 7 workshops)

• SWGDAM Mixture 

Committee resource page 

(contains worked mixture examples 

by Bruce Heidebrecht, Maryland State 

Police DNA Technical Leader)

• Links to mixture 

interpretation software 

(currently 12 links)

• Literature references 

(currently 144 articles)

http://www.cstl.nist.gov/strbase/mixture.htm

Literature listing by topic for 144 articles 

Topic category # 

References

Mixture Principles & Recommendations 13

Setting Thresholds 11

Stutter Products & Peak Height Ratios 19

Stochastic Effects & Allele Dropout 18

Estimating the Number of Contributors 15

Mixture Ratios 9

Statistical Approaches 23

Low Template DNA Mixtures 8

Separating Cells to Avoid Mixtures 3

Software (plus 12 websites) 7

Probabilistic Genotyping Approach 11

General Information on Mixtures 7
Applied 

Genetics

Outreach via Presentations 

from the NIST Applied Genetics Group

• Present our research at scientific conferences

• Conduct training workshops at forensic labs

• Visit universities with forensic science programs

• Teach via webinars on specific topics

– NIST will host a mixture interpretation webinar on April 12, 

2013 (goal is to reach DNA analysts world-wide)

In the past 2 years (Oct 2010-Nov 2012):

 138 talks & posters

 20 training workshops

Slide handouts and posters available at 

http://www.cstl.nist.gov/strbase/NISTpub.htm
Applied 

Genetics Scientific Conferences (Past 2 Years)

Sept 2011

Sept 2012

Feb 2011

Feb 2012

Oct 2011

Oct 2012

Nov 2011

Nov 2012

June 2011

June 2012

Primary National Conferences

August 2011

May 2012 May 2012

July 2011

International Conferences

Sept 2012 Oct 2011

Nov 2012

Sept 2012

May 2011

May 2012

Aug 2012

Green Mountain 

DNA Conference

Regional Forensic Meetings
Applied 

Genetics Crime Labs Visited (Past 2 Years)

Sept 2012

March 2011

April 2012 May 2012

April 2011

June 2012

March 2011 Aug 2011

April 2011 April 2011 May 2011 June 2011

Presentations were given in each lab reviewing NIST DNA research 

and providing requested training on forensic DNA topics
Applied 

Genetics Universities Visited (Past 2 Years)

April 2011

Nov 2011

Nov 2011 Nov 2011

April 2012

April 2011

May 2012

Nov 2011

April 2011

Sept 2011

March 2012

May 2012* 

*commencement address

April 2011

March 2011

Nov 2010
Applied 

Genetics Other Countries Visited (Past 2 Years)

Sweden Taiwan

Austria

Japan Korea

Canada Denmark

Czech 

Belgium Republic

Sept 2011 Apr 2011 May 2012 May 2012 June 2012

Dec 2010 Nov 2012 Nov 2011 June 2012

University of 

Copenhagen

Institute of 

Forensic 

Medicine

European DNA 

Profiling Group 

& European 

Network of 

Forensic 

Science 

Institutes

Innsbruck 

Medical 

University 

Institute of Legal 

Medicine

National Research 

Institute of Police 

Science

Supreme 

Prosecutors’ 

Office

National Laboratory 

of Forensic Science

Criminal Investigation 

Bureau Forensic 

Science Center

Royal Canadian 

Mounted Police & 

Canadian Society of 

Forensic Science

Forensica 

conference
Applied 

Genetics NIST Applied Genetics Group Hosted a Spanish 

Guest Researcher (Jan 2011 – July 2012)

Dr. Manuel Fondevila

Int. J. Legal Med. (2012) 126: 725-737

Studied commercial 30plex (Qiagen 

DIPlex) and a home-brew 38plex in 

U.S. population samples
Applied 

Genetics

Publications on Forensic DNA 

from the NIST Applied Genetics Group

• 144 publications since 2002 

– 40 in the past 2 years

– Includes journal articles, book chapters, and textbooks

• References are all listed on STRBase

– http://www.cstl.nist.gov/strbase/NISTpub.htm

– Many are available directly from STRBase

Most of our articles 

are published in 

Forensic Sci. Int. 

Genetics –

currently the 

highest impact 

journal in the field

136 page report written by Kevin Kiesler
Applied 

Genetics

Application Review on Forensic Science

appears every other year in June 15 issue of Analytical Chemistry

Anal. Chem. 2011, 83, 4539–4556

Year 

Published

Years 

Covered

# Articles 

Reviewed

# DNA Articles 

Reviewed

2005 2003 & 2004 789 250

2007 2005 & 2006 560 181

2009 2007 & 2008 552 163

2011 2009 & 2010 575 122
Applied 

Genetics Contributing to Book Compilations

CRC Press

2013

Humana Press

2012

Humana Press

1998

Humana Press

2005

Topics on Forensic DNA Analysis

Current Practices and Emerging Technologies

The NIST Applied Genetics Group has contributed to every major book 

compilation regarding forensic DNA over the past 15 years
Applied 

Genetics

Forensic DNA Typing Textbooks 

Have Set the Standard for the Field

Feb 2005

2

nd Edition

688 pages

Jan 2001

335 pages

1

st Edition 3rd Edition (3 volumes)

Sept 2009

520 pages

Aug 2011

704 pages

INTERPRETATION

John M. Butler

Fall 2013 

(being written)

~500 pages

Chinese (2007)

Japanese (2009)

Language Editions

Writing these books is now 

part of my job here at NIST 

(no royalties are received)
Applied 

Genetics Current Committee Contributions

Held each Jan & July 

(Fredericksburg, VA)

Virginia Department of Forensic Science – Scientific Advisory Committee

North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation Forensic Science Advisory Board

John Butler – Mixture Committee (chair)

Pete Vallone – Rapid DNA Committee (chair)

Mike Coble – Enhanced Detection Methods & Interpretation Committee

NIST/NIJ Technical Working Group on Biological Evidence Preservation

http://www.swgdam.org

http://www.ncdoj.gov/About-DOJ/State-Bureau-of-Investigation/Crime-Lab/Forensic-Advisory-Board.aspx

Mike Coble serves as vice-chairman and member

http://www.dfs.virginia.gov/about/saCommittee.cfm

John Butler serves as a member of the biology sub-committee

SWGDAM (Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods)

http://www.nist.gov/oles/forensics/crime_scene.cfm

Margaret Kline serves as a member
Applied 

Genetics Summary and Lessons Learned

• Need a good team to become the experts in the field 

– having the right people is crucial

• Comprehensively gather information, create 

standardized information formats that are useful, 

share what is learned through multiple avenues

• Be plugged into the community and willingly help 

meet their needs (visits to labs to conduct training 

workshops benefits labs and our understanding of their needs 

and challenges)
Applied 

Genetics Acknowledgments

Community feedback and contributors to the NIST STRBase website

NIST Disclaimer: Certain commercial equipment, instruments and materials are identified in order to specify experimental procedures as 

completely as possible. In no case does such identification imply a recommendation or it imply that any of the materials, instruments or 

equipment identified are necessarily the best available for the purpose.

Points of view are those of the presenters and do not necessarily represent the official position of the National Institute of Standards and 

Technology or the U.S. Department of Justice.

Margaret 

Kline

Becky 

Hill

Mike

Coble

John 

Butler

Forensic DNA Team

Funding from the National Institute of Justice (NIJ)

through NIST Law Enforcement Standards Office (OLES)

Dave 

Duewer

Pete 

Vallone

Erica 

Butts

DNA Biometrics Team

Funding from the FBI S&T Branch

through NIST Information Access Division

Kevin 

Kiesler

Contact info:

john.butler@nist.gov

301-975-4049
Applied 

Genetics Thank you for your attention!