New DNA markers for the analysis of challenging DNA mixtures and for individual ancestry inference in forensic investigations

The establishment of DNA profiling within the criminal justice system revolutionized the field of forensic science. The success of DNA profiling depends on the ability to obtain interpretable DNA profiles. Many biological samples submitted to the forensic genetic unit are mixtures of several person and are more difficult to analyse than a single individual. An even more challenging situation occurs when the victim's DNA is much more abundant than perpetrator's one. Such situations happen for instance when analysing stains collected on the victim body.

To overcome this limitations, a new genetic marker has previsouly been developped, named DIP-STR. It allows characterizing mixtures of two DNA up to the ratio 1:1000.

The aim of my research project is to develop a largest set of new DIP-STR marker and to increase the impact of te usefulness of this forensic tool.