STRait Razor: A length-based forensic STR allele-calling tool for use with second generation sequencing data

Linkage disequilibrium matches forensic genetic records to disjoint genomic marker sets

“…12, and combining them with the 13-locus set indeed provides a substantial accuracy increase (Table 1). We expect that accuracy could potentially be increased further if STR genotypes were produced by a procedure that obtains the full DNA sequence of the STRs rather than the length of the repeated unit, thereby subdividing repeat-length alleles into finer allelic classes (33,34); with this approach, the level of resolution at which alleles are classified as distinct could be tuned to a level that maximizes the record-matching accuracy.…”

Evaluation of the Ion Torrent™ HID SNP 169-plex: A SNP typing assay developed for human identification by second generation sequencing

“…They provide the possibility to (1) obtain detailed sequence information on the traditional forensic genetic markers, (2) type combinations of markers that cannot be typed in the same assay with the currently used methods, and (3) collect massive amounts of data from either one individual or large amount of data from many individuals simultaneously. SGS of STRs [1][2][3][4][5][6] and mtDNA [7,8] Life Technologies TM developed a SNP typing assay for human identification named the Ion Torrent TM HID SNP panel. An early version of this panel (v0.1) was recently tested by Budowle and co-workers [9].…”

STRait Razor v2.0: The improved STR Allele Identification Tool – Razor

“…The accuracy and reliability of STRait Razor have been reported [1]. Therefore, concordance testing was performed to verify that STRait Razor v2.0, with its updates, provides the same allele calls as it did in its first release.…”

“…While the current assortment of MPS platforms and methodologies are capable of sequencing STRs [1][2][3][4], there are very few options available for variant analysis of the raw data [1,5]. STRait Razor accurately analyzes STR sequence data from FASTQ files while avoiding the drawbacks associated with software tools that are unable to adequately detect complex repeat motifs or intra-repeat variation [1]. Although it was intended for forensic DNA typing, the software can be used for a wide variety of genetic research purposes.…”