<p>The objective of this study was to develop and validate a six Non-CODIS miniSTR genotyping system and to determine its suitability for forensic casework in South Africa. In Non-CODIS miniSTR genotyping systems, smaller PCR products are amplified and the primers are positioned as close as possible to the repeat region. For this reason, these systems can be valuable in a variety of scenarios including complex paternity cases, missing persons work, and mass fatality disasters.</p>

<p>The objective of this study was to develop and validate a six Non-CODIS miniSTR genotyping system and to determine its suitability for forensic casework in South Africa. In Non-CODIS miniSTR genotyping systems, smaller PCR products are amplified and the primers are positioned as close as possible to the repeat region. For this reason, these systems can be valuable in a variety of scenarios including complex paternity cases, missing persons work, and mass fatality disasters.</p>

The objective of this study was to develop and validate a six Non-CODIS miniSTR genotyping system and to determine its suitability for forensic casework in South Africa.In Non-CODIS miniSTR genotyping systems, smaller PCR products are amplified and the primers are positioned as close as possible to the repeat region. For this reason, these systems can be valuable in a variety of scenarios including complex paternity cases,missing persons work, and mass fatality disasters. After the successful implementation of the genotyping system in the laboratory, allele size range was determined for each of the loci and allelic ladders were constructed. The entire repeat regions of the six loci under investigation were successfully sequenced.Consequently, allele repeat number, structure and observed size were determined for each locus.An internal validation study of the six Non-CODIS miniSTR genotyping system was conducted following the SWGDAM guidelines. A comprehensive population study,covering five population groups from South Africa was also carried out.The genotyping system produced consistent, accurate and precise genetic profiles for low concentrations of template DNA. When analyzing mixed DNA samples, successful differentiation of minor and major DNA components was identifiable. Amplification products were observed in non-human DNA studies but in all instances complete genotype profiles were not obtained. Allele frequencies and forensic parameters were determined for the system in five South African population groups (i.e. Afrikaner, Asian-Indian, Mixed Ancestry, Xhosa and Cape Muslim). No deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was observed in any of the populations. Furthermore, all populations displayed a high power of discrimination and a high power of exclusion.The six Non-CODIS miniSTR genotyping system has shown a good potential to aid in the analysis of degraded DNA samples. This system can be further improved by including additional loci. Even in its current form, it can certainly provide additional discrimination in complex paternity and/or missing person cases. / >Magister Scientiae - MSc

Magister Scientiae - MSc / The objective of this study was to develop and validate a six Non-CODIS miniSTR genotyping system and to determine its suitability for forensic casework in South Africa. In Non-CODIS miniSTR genotyping systems, smaller PCR products are amplified and the primers are positioned as close as possible to the repeat region. For this reason, these systems can be valuable in a variety of scenarios including complex paternity cases, missing persons work, and mass fatality disasters. / South Africa