University College London – UCL
Masters Crime and Forensic Science
Module 2018/2019:
Forensic Biology and DNA Interpretation
Exam Questions & Answers
Topic: Emerging Technologies
, Exam Topic 2: Emerging Technologies
1. Name a few emerging technologies in Forensic Biology (7x).
(1) Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)
(2) Mitochondrial DNA Analysis
(3) Direct PCR analysis
(4) Diamond Dye for Latent DNA detection
(5) Messenger RNA (mRNA) profiling for bodily fluid identification
(6) Epigenetics
(7) Forensic Phenotyping.
2. NGS – How is this different from the traditional DNA profiling technique?
Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) is a platform that has enabled the sequencing of
thousands and millions of DNA molecules to occur simultaneously.
TRADITIONAL DNA PROFILING
(a) 1 test at a time:
When it comes to routine/traditional DNA profiling, you can only do 1 analysis at a
time, making use of about 25 markers.
(b) amount of DNA is limiting:
If there are further analysis that needs to get done for further information purposes,
you will need to be specific as to which one and its importance to the case, as a large
amount of DNA is then needed to conduct extra analysis.
(c) disadvantage in most cases:
This can be a disadvantage, as in most cases you will not encounter large volume of
DNA, and thus multitude of tests are sometimes not possible.
(d) help required:
In addition, with complex mixtures, a statistician is often needed to help understand
the mixture and its properties.
NGS DNA PROFILINGS
(a) multitude of test:
When it comes to using NGS-DNA profiling, you have the ability to do multitude of
analysis in 1 tube, i.e. prior was 25, where with NGS it is around 200 markers in 1
reaction.
(b) conserve limited sample:
Due to the ability to run multitude of tests from 1 analysis, it conserves your limited
sample.
(c) fewer inconclusive results:
NGS produces fewer inconclusive results because you’re going to get better analysis
for (3x) degraded samples, partial profiles, mixture interpretation capabilities (detects
more differences).
(d) physical characteristics:
With NGS-DNA profiling, due to the amount of information that is able to be retrieved
Masters Crime and Forensic Science
Module 2018/2019:
Forensic Biology and DNA Interpretation
Exam Questions & Answers
Topic: Emerging Technologies
, Exam Topic 2: Emerging Technologies
1. Name a few emerging technologies in Forensic Biology (7x).
(1) Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)
(2) Mitochondrial DNA Analysis
(3) Direct PCR analysis
(4) Diamond Dye for Latent DNA detection
(5) Messenger RNA (mRNA) profiling for bodily fluid identification
(6) Epigenetics
(7) Forensic Phenotyping.
2. NGS – How is this different from the traditional DNA profiling technique?
Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) is a platform that has enabled the sequencing of
thousands and millions of DNA molecules to occur simultaneously.
TRADITIONAL DNA PROFILING
(a) 1 test at a time:
When it comes to routine/traditional DNA profiling, you can only do 1 analysis at a
time, making use of about 25 markers.
(b) amount of DNA is limiting:
If there are further analysis that needs to get done for further information purposes,
you will need to be specific as to which one and its importance to the case, as a large
amount of DNA is then needed to conduct extra analysis.
(c) disadvantage in most cases:
This can be a disadvantage, as in most cases you will not encounter large volume of
DNA, and thus multitude of tests are sometimes not possible.
(d) help required:
In addition, with complex mixtures, a statistician is often needed to help understand
the mixture and its properties.
NGS DNA PROFILINGS
(a) multitude of test:
When it comes to using NGS-DNA profiling, you have the ability to do multitude of
analysis in 1 tube, i.e. prior was 25, where with NGS it is around 200 markers in 1
reaction.
(b) conserve limited sample:
Due to the ability to run multitude of tests from 1 analysis, it conserves your limited
sample.
(c) fewer inconclusive results:
NGS produces fewer inconclusive results because you’re going to get better analysis
for (3x) degraded samples, partial profiles, mixture interpretation capabilities (detects
more differences).
(d) physical characteristics:
With NGS-DNA profiling, due to the amount of information that is able to be retrieved
