Evaluation of OpenArray™ as a Genotyping Method for Forensic DNA Phenotyping and Human Identification.

Area of Science:

• Forensic genetics
• Human identification
• Phenotype prediction

Background:

• Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are valuable genetic markers.
• Existing SNP panels are used for forensic and phenotypic analysis.
• Customizable platforms offer potential for tailored genetic analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a custom OpenArray™ platform for SNP analysis.
• To assess its utility for predicting eye, hair, and skin color.
• To determine its effectiveness for personal identification in forensic samples.

Main Methods:

• A custom OpenArray™ plate was designed with 60 validated SNPs.
• 314 DNA samples were analyzed to determine call and concordance rates.
• Assay sensitivity was tested using serial dilutions (0.5-10.0 ng DNA).
• Performance was evaluated on real forensic casework samples.

Main Results:

• The OpenArray™ platform achieved a 96.9% call rate and 99.8% concordance.
• Accurate typing was possible with as little as 0.5 ng of DNA.
• Human identification SNPs yielded a random match probability (RMP) of ~10^-8.
• Real casework samples showed >90% call rates and accurate phenotype predictions.

Conclusions:

• The OpenArray™ system is accurate and sensitive for phenotype prediction and personal identification.
• It can be used for suspect exclusion and sample prioritization in forensics.
• Further validation and inclusion of more SNPs could enhance its discriminatory power and expand its applications (e.g., ancestry).