Decision support for detection and collection of biological traces for genetic and criminal identification purposes – BioTrack

BioTrack: decision support for the detection and collection of biological traces for genetic and criminal identification purposes.

Touch DNA Traces left at the crime scene by offenders when touching an object, are widely collected to be analyzed for judiciary purposes. However, DNA profiles with a good quality are obtained for only about 30% of these samples. The main explanation for this huge loss of information is an insufficient amount of DNA recovered for the analysis.

To make visible invisible DNA traces and optimize their collection and analysis for human identification by DNA profiling.

The Biotrack program aims at gaining insight into the biology of touch DNA and to improve the success rate of DNA profiling. The biotrack hypothesis is that the pre-analytical steps, more precisely the detection and collection of the touch DNA samples as well as the release of the biological material collected and the recovery of its DNA, deserve improvements. Biotrack program aims to optimize procedures and to develop decision support tools. The specific objectives are:<br />- to improve the knowledge on the composition and characteristics of touch DNA samples.<br />- to develop in vitro models of touch DNA samples.<br />- to improve the success rate of touch DAN samples analysis by: (i) developing new methods, tools and embedded devices to detect samples (zone of interest) at the crime scene, from the fundamental investigation of molecular markers expression on shedded, desiccated, fragmented cells; (ii) setting-up and optimizing standardized collection procedure, from the analysis of parameters governing interactions between biological material and substrates; (iii) finding optimal combinations of collection devices and DNA extraction protocols in order to minimize the loss of DNA; (iv) developing a decision-support tool allowing to find the best combination of parameters to maximize the probability to get a conclusive DNA profile according to the characteristics of the sample and the substrate.<br />- to provide best practices and training for the analysis of touch DNA samples.<br />- to manage knowledge transfer and communication including scientific vulgarization.<br /><br />This will also significantly reduce the investigation time and cost of forensic DNA analysis by reducing the number of negative touch DNA samples.