The aim of this preliminary study was to compare the quantity and quality of DNA extracted from a variety of forensic samples using a MagCore HF 16 Plus automated nucleic acid extractor (RBC Bioscience, Taiwan) and MagCore ® Genomic DNA Forensic Kit and a manual procedure employing the ZR Genomic DNA-Tissue MicroPrep (ZymoResearch, USA) kit. The whole purification process using a MagCore HF 16 Plus automated nucleic acid extractor is fully automated and requires no sample pretreatment. The scope of forensic samples tested comprised standard reference samples (mouth swabs taken on rayon and nylon swabs (Copan, Italy), blood, saliva and sperm on storage cards, cigarette ends, hair samples, chewing gum, and epithelial cells on lifting tapes).

The aim of this paper is to present the STRAND (STR ANimal Database) cloud expert system for non-human DNA analysis. The cloud expert system (CES) combines the cross-referenced registries of STR markers for different species and a DNA database for comparison of DNA profiles, with a repository of scientific papers and a dashboard for unpublished data, protocols, negative results and announcements related to animal DNA typing.