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A very fast, efficient, fully automated database search algorithm has been implemented as an open source Rpackage dnamatch2. It carries out both "crime-stain-against-crime-stain" and "reference-against-crime-stain" comparisons, where the stains can be partial mixture profiles with allele drop-out. In this article we demonstrate how the algorithm works using a large set of crime-stain and reference profiles as an example.

Background: Novel, uncharacterised proteins represent a challenge in biochemistry and molecular biology. In this report we present an initial functional characterization of human kidney predominant protein, NCU-G1.

In alleged sexual assault and rape cases, the focus has often been to collect samples from the victim's body, for detection of body fluids or skin cells from the offender. But in many cases intimate body samples from the perpetrator(s) can also be informative. However, in cases where the female victim claims vaginal penetration, the defendant may display an alternative explanation to the DNA findings, i.e. that the victim's skin cells has been secondarily transferred to his penis. We hypothesized that female DNA will be detected in a significantly greater amount on swabs from penis after intercourse than after secondary transfer by skin contact.Fourteen male-female couples were recruited to test the above hypothesis, by collecting penile swabs from 3 specified anatomical locations: Glans, shaft, and the coronal sulcus, after two different situations: Vaginal intercourse and secondary transfer of epithelial cells by skin contact. The results show that penile swabs following intercourse produce significantly higher DNA concentrations than after secondary transfer by skin contact. Our results, indicates which of the anatomical regions is best suited for sampling. The DNA profiling results show a preponderance of female profiles over male profiles following intercourse compared to secondary skin contact.Based on these data, it is possible to make a statistical model to distinguish between samples taken after intercourse and samples taken after secondary transfer by skin contact based on the amount of female DNA and mixture proportion (Mx) between female and male DNA in samples collected from penis swabs.

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