title: Forensic Loci Allele Database (FLAD): Automatically generated, permanent identifiers for sequenced forensic alleles.
abstract: It is difficult to predict if and when massively parallel sequencing of forensic STR loci will replace capillary electrophoresis as the new standard technology in forensic genetics. The main benefits of sequencing are increased multiplexing scales and SNP detection. There is not yet a consensus on how sequenced profiles should be reported. We present the Forensic Loci Allele Database (FLAD) service, made freely available on http://forensic.ugent.be/FLAD/. It offers permanent identifiers for sequenced forensic alleles (STR or SNP) and their microvariants for use in forensic allele nomenclature. Analogous to Genbank, its aim is to provide permanent identifiers for forensically relevant allele sequences. Researchers that are developing forensic sequencing kits or are performing population studies, can register on http://forensic.ugent.be/FLAD/ and add loci and allele sequences with a short and simple application interface (API).
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Van Neste
authors.affiliation: Biobix, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Wim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Van Criekinge
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Deforce
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: Filip.VanNieuwerburgh@UGent.be.
authors.forename: Filip
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Van Nieuwerburgh
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D030561:Databases, Nucleic Acid; D019075:Electrophoresis, Capillary; D053803:Forensic Genetics / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D014584:User-Computer Interface
keywords: Database; Forensic loci; MPS; NGS; Nomenclature; STR