Promega's Cookie Policy

We use cookies and similar technologies to make our website work, run analytics, improve our website, and show you personalized content and advertising. Some of these cookies are essential for our website to work. For others, we won’t set them unless you accept them. To find out more about cookies and how to manage cookies, read our Cookie Policy.

Forensic DNA Analysis: Massively Parallel Sequencing Workflows

Promega offers solutions for forensic DNA analysis using a massively parallel sequencing (MPS) workflow. We provide preprocessing reagents and automation-friendly DNA isolation systems for processing casework samples in a streamlined workflow. The PowerQuant® System provides accurate, human-specific DNA quantitation. PowerSeq® products allow target amplification of short tandem repeats (STRs) for MPS analysis of both Y-chromosome and autosomal DNA, as well as for preparation of Illumina® sequencing libraries for mitochondrial control region DNA.

Massively Parallel Sequencing for Forensic DNA Analysis

Traditionally, capillary electrophoresis (CE) has been the method of choice for analyzing short tandem repeats (STRs) for human identification. Although CE methods continue to evolve in terms of increasing sensitivity and the ability to work with degraded or poor-quality DNA, the technique still faces some challenges.

Next-generation sequencing (NGS), or massively parallel sequencing (MPS), enables the simultaneous analysis of hundreds of genetic markers, considerably more than current CE technologies. In addition to providing information on the size of the repeated regions, as CE does, MPS determines the underlying DNA sequence of each region. In doing so, MPS offers a solution to the biggest challenges facing CE methods, such as distinguishing true allele variation from PCR artifacts, interpreting mixtures, and obtaining usable profiles from degraded DNA.

A popular application of MPS in forensics is the sequencing of mitochondrial DNA—either the variable control region or the whole mitochondrial genome—with increased mixture deconvolution and heteroplasmy resolution compared to traditional methods. Although adoption of MPS workflows by forensic laboratories has been slow, the technology holds great promise for increasing the accuracy and throughput of forensic DNA analysis. Future advancements in MPS to further lower the cost will encourage more widespread adoption and consequent validation of forensic MPS methods.