nist-gov/www.nist.gov/topics/dna-biological-evidence
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<p>What is DNA evidence? And how is DNA used to solve crimes? DNA is a complex molecule that contains the instructions for building and maintaining the bodies of humans and other organisms. With the exception of red blood cells, every cell in your body has DNA. And with the exception of identical twins, everyones DNA is different. If someone leaves blood, semen or other biological material at a crime scene, scientists can use it as DNA evidence and&nbsp;create a DNA profile, or genetic fingerprint of that person. That profile can be used to search a DNA database for a possible suspect, to associate a suspect with evidence left at a crime scene, or to link two crimes that may have been committed by the same person. DNA profiles, and some of the complications in using them, are described in this article about&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2016/12/nist-research-enables-enhanced-dna-fingerprints">enhanced DNA fingerprints</a>.</p>
<h3>What we do</h3>
<p>NIST has played a key role in the historical development of forensic DNA analysis. Today, our forensic DNA program has three major components.</p>
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<li>We conduct research to advance forensic DNA methods, including laying the groundwork for using&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2018/07/nist-builds-statistical-foundation-next-generation-forensic-dna-profiling">next generation DNA sequencing</a>&nbsp;for human identification.</li>
<li>We conduct scientific foundation reviews in the forensic sciences, including for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nist.gov/featured-stories/dna-mixtures-forensic-science-explainer">DNA mixture interpretation</a>.</li>
<li>We develop and manufacture&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2018/09/nist-updates-forensic-standard-reference-materials">physical reference standards</a>&nbsp;that DNA labs across the country and the world use to help ensure reliable results.</li>
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<h3 class="nist-teaser__title"><a href="/programs-projects/development-rapid-multiplex-pcr-techniques"><span>Development of Rapid Multiplex PCR Techniques</span>
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<div class="text-with-summary"> With the continuing development of miniaturization technologies such as microfluidic and micro-capillary devices there is a desire to reduce the overall time required to type DNA samples. Such miniature devices could be used for initial screening at a crime scene, at a border, or at airports. There
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<h3 class="nist-teaser__title"><a href="/programs-projects/dna-mixture-interpretation"><span>DNA Mixture Interpretation</span>
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<div class="text-with-summary"> Mixtures of DNA from more than one source are commonly seen in forensic evidentiary samples and are challenging to interpret. Over the past decade, our group at NIST has conducted several interlaboratory studies involving mixture interpretation with short tandem repeat (STR) markers in order to
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<h3 class="nist-teaser__title"><a href="/programs-projects/digital-pcr"><span>Digital PCR</span>
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<div class="text-with-summary"> With appropriately validated assays, digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR) determines the number of DNA targets (copies) per reaction partition, without the need for a standard curve. Reaction partitions can be in the form of fixed chambers in a microfluidic device, referred to as chamber digital
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<div class="text-with-summary"> Intended impact This work was designed to provide materials that forensic laboratories being assessed under the FBI DNA Quality Assurance Standard can comply with as stated, "The laboratory shall check its DNA procedures annually or whenever substantial changes are made to the protocol(s) against an
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<h3> DNA Mixtures: A Forensic Science Explainer
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<div class="text-long"><p>What are DNA mixtures? And why are they sometimes so difficult to interpret?</p></div>
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<h3><span>Human DNA Standard: A Q&amp;A With NISTs Becky Steffen</span>
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<div class="text-with-summary"> How do you solve a crime using DNA? First, you have to find biological evidence — such as blood, other bodily fluids, or maybe just a few skin cells that might be related to the crime. Then you can try to generate a DNA profile from that evidence. That is a genetic fingerprint, and no two people, other than identical twins, share it. Once you have a DNA profile of a suspect, you can look for
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<h3><span property="schema:name">NIST Publishes Report on DNA Mixture Interpretation Methods</span>
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