Recent trends and developments in forensic DNA extraction

Abstract

The extraction of DNA is a fairly standard procedure routinely undertaken in biological academic and research settings. In a forensic DNA context, DNA extraction is the crucial first step toward the generation of DNA profiles used to support convictions or exonerations in the criminal justice system. However, it is often complicated by the additional challenge of yielding sufficient quantities of clean DNA that is free from environmental inhibitors, from a wide spectrum of sample types which may contain limited quantities of biological material. While improvements in methods and technology over the decades have sped up and simplified the process of DNA extraction, several issues remain to be fully addressed—such as the incomplete separation of spermic DNA from sperm‐epithelial cell mixtures, increasing demands for ever‐faster DNA results, or even on‐scene DNA processing, and processing of difficult samples such as skeletal remains or samples contaminated by Chemical, Biological, or Radiological (CBR) agents. These challenges are often compounded by high work volumes and limited quantities of starting material. As such, this review focuses on recent trends and developments in four areas of forensic DNA extraction: (a) analysis of sexual assault evidence which often represents a significant portion of a forensic DNA laboratory's casework, (b) use of portable rapid DNA instruments which has gained much traction among law enforcement in recent times, (c) DNA extraction from difficult and CBR‐contaminated samples which, albeit rare, would be essential in a DNA laboratory's toolbox in the event of an incident, and (d) bypassing DNA extraction altogether. This article is categorized under: Forensic Biology > Forensic DNA Technologies

Fabrication and Applications of Microfluidic Devices: A Review

“…The best results can be acquired with sample quantities of less than one milligram or with a pure substance, and the result can be observed with the unaided eye [ 37 ]. Moreover, the DNA extraction chip can be coupled with an expert profile-interpretation software that allows law enforcement agencies to check whether there is a match between a person under custody and the DNA profiles recovered from unsolved crime cases [ 94 ].…”

Developments in forensic DNA analysis

“…This review highlights some of the recent key developments in the rapidly expanding field of forensic genetics, but there are many other exciting areas of research that could not be covered here. For example, methodological developments in DNA extraction [ 147 ], direct PCR [ 148 ], and rapid/at-scene processing of samples on portable devices (reviewed in [ 5 ]), the application of MPS technologies to new marker types such as microhaplotypes [ 149 , 150 ], analysis of non-human DNA in the form of human and environmental microbiomes [ 151 , 152 ], and the use of third-generation sequencing devices in forensic DNA analysis [ 9 , 11 ] represent just some of the current and future developments in the field. It will be crucially important that researchers consider how to harness the innovations produced by this dynamic field to ensure their implementation into forensic practice.…”

Recent advances in forensic biology and forensic DNA typing: INTERPOL review 2019–2022

“…The process of obtaining a DNA profile begins with collecting a biological sample and extracting DNA from it. A review of recent trends and developments in forensic DNA extraction focused on isolating male DNA in sexual assault cases, using portable rapid DNA testing instruments, recovering DNA from difficult samples such as human remains, and bypassing DNA extraction altogether with direct PCR methods [ 177 ].…”