Mini‐ STRs

Abstract

Since their potential application to human identity testing was recognised nearly two decades ago, analysis of short tandem repeat (STR) markers has become the gold standard in human DNA profiling. When DNA is degraded, however, STR profiles may be difficult to obtain using conventional STR typing kits. To overcome this limitation, research over the past several years has focused on the development of reduced‐size amplicons for both new and standard STR markers. Though challenges to their development and use remain, these “miniSTRs” have emerged as a powerful tool for the analysis of degraded DNA.