Vic Uni to test forensic DNA tools

A collaboration between researchers at Victoria University, the Victorian Forensic Science Centre (VFSC) and US genomics company DNAPrint Genomics will test DNAPrint's Retinome assay for iris colour for use in Australia.

DNAPrint has developed a number of DNA-based assays for use by law enforcement agencies. In addition to Retinome, the company has other assays which allow prediction of ethnogeographic ancestry which can be used to enable predictive physical profiles to be built up from crime-scene DNA.

The technology is being used in the US to enable police to narrow in on potential suspects when eye-witness accounts are lacking.

According to Swati Baindur-Hudson, the Victoria University researcher leading the project in Australia, the aim of the collaboration is to validate and integrate the technology at the VFSC, which provides molecular forensics services to the Victorian police.

"We will try to test DNAPrint Genomics' kit for two main things -- whether it can be used on samples found in forensic situations and whether it can be used on Australian samples," she said.

"We can use SNPs to relate to a trait such as eye colour, but it is one thing to work with pure DNA in a lab and quite another to work with DNA collected from a forensic site."

Among the parameters that will be evaluated are the reproducibility and sensitivity of the test, when performed on different forensic samples such as DNA isolated from blood, skin cells and hair follicle cells, cross-reactivity with non-human samples, and the effect of the environment on the test.

The assay will also be adapted for use on the capillary electrophoresis instruments currently used in Australian forensic laboratories.

Baindur-Hudson said the project would be completed by mid-2006. Her research group has been working with the VFSC to identify and integrate new DNA technologies into police forensic science.

Linkage grant funding

The collaboration is being funded by a AUD$75,000 International Science Linkages grant from the Department of Education, Science and Training. The grants, part of the Backing Australia's Ability initiative, are designed to support international collaboration between Australian and international researchers.

A new round of International Science Linkage grants has opened recently. Applications will be accepted until March 2 from Australian private companies, industry groups and scientific agencies.