Developments in Forensic DNA
8.8 Future Trends and Challenges
d) significant modifications to analytical procedures that will be documented and subjected to validation experiments
• For methods that are not specified by guidelines, the laboratory shall (when possible) select published, scientifically peer-reviewed tech-niques for application in forensics.
SWGDAM guidelines are tailored to fit specific forms of human DNA testing, including the use of STRs and mitochondrial DNA testing. For specialized forms of testing (e.g., forensic botany), it is recommended that the existing guidelines be adhered to whenever possible. However, if certain types of experiments cannot be performed due to method constraints, it should not be a detriment to acceptance in court.54
8.8 Future Trends and Challenges
The advance of forensic DNA technology applications and the growth of the National CODIS DNA databases have increased the demand for human DNA services. This has resulted in large casework backlogs and widespread inadequate resource issues. To increase efficiencies and throughput, the application of robotic workstations for both database samples and casework samples could help to address the backlog problems.55 One of the most time-consuming tasks of DNA analysis is the evaluation and review of DNA typing data. The development of expert software systems will aid in review and interpretation of data.56 The tragic events of airplane crashes (e.g., New York and Nova Scotia), acts of terrorism (e.g., World Trade Center disaster), or war crimes (Bosnia) result in a transient great demand for DNA analysis to help identify the victims.57–60 The technological advances for high-through-put analysis and for working with highly degraded samples helped to meet these challenges. The development of Y chromosome markers, both STRs and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and the successes in mito-chondrial DNA sequencing for highly degraded and minimal quantity sam-ples have also helped to increase the chance of obtaining useful information to assist investigators and the courts in resolving criminal matters.30
The challenge for DNA technology applications to plants in the forensic arena will be both technical and legal as we have observed for human DNA typing applications. Forensic DNA analysis of marijuana is being developed in the U.S. and elsewhere.61–64 Establishing casework service in this area could open up other applications for plant DNA analysis. The availability of plant DNA analysis for criminal investigations would provide opportunities to uncover evidence that could resolve difficult cases and be a critical tool in the future.
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