Five years ago, DNADNA, or Deoxyribonucleic Acid, is the genetic material found in cells, composed of a double helix structure. It serves as the genetic blueprint for all living organisms. analysis was on the verge of a revolution with the advent of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology. NGS has since significantly impacted forensic laboratories, aiding in advanced DNA work and investigations.
However, a new report from the NIJ’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence at RTI International states that NGS is still in its early stages of adoption, and adoption has been slow.
The report, entitled “Landscape Study of Next Generation Sequencing Technologies for Forensic Applications,” identified several barriers to widespread implementation, including the need for heavy investment in resources, such as funding, staffing, and training, additional physical laboratory space to accommodate instrumentation and digital infrastructure, and the time-consuming process of integrating NGS workflows with standard operating procedures and laboratory information management systems.
The team behind the paper emphasized that an increase in published validation studies and publicly available information will help ease the transition from PCR-CE to NGS technology. In addition, increased technology adoption and open-access validation data can lead to the general acceptance of NGS within the court system.
Further research into what NGS can and cannot do is critical as hope grows for the widespread implementation of the technique. The paper is based on primary and secondary sources, including industry literature, journal articles, and interviews with subject matter experts.
