title: Development and expansion of high-quality control region databases to improve forensic mtDNA evidence interpretation.
abstract: In an effort to increase the quantity, breadth and availability of mtDNA databases suitable for forensic comparisons, we have developed a high-throughput process to generate approximately 5000 control region sequences per year from regional US populations, global populations from which the current US population is derived and global populations currently under-represented in available forensic databases. The system utilizes robotic instrumentation for all laboratory steps from pre-extraction through sequence detection, and a rigorous eight-step, multi-laboratory data review process with entirely electronic data transfer. Over the past 3 years, nearly 10,000 control region sequences have been generated using this approach. These data are being made publicly available and should further address the need for consistent, high-quality mtDNA databases for forensic testing.
authors.affiliation: Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL), 1413 Research Blvd., Rockville, MD 20850, USA.
authors.forename: Jodi A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Irwin
authors.forename: Jessica L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Saunier
authors.forename: Katharine M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Strouss
authors.forename: Kimberly A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Sturk
authors.forename: Toni M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Diegoli
authors.forename: Rebecca S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Just
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Coble
authors.forename: Walther
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Parson
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Parsons
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D030561:Databases, Nucleic Acid; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000235:genetics; D053803:Forensic Genetics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005828:Genetics, Population; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D012371:Robotics / Q000295:instrumentation; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial