Comparison of Algorithms for Kinship Inference Using the Verogen ForenSeq^® Kintelligence Kit

Area of Science:

• Forensic genetics
• Human identification

Background:

• Forensic kinship analysis uses genetic data to identify individuals via relatives.
• It aids investigations involving missing persons and unidentified remains.
• Medium-density SNP data is increasingly explored for forensic kinship analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• Evaluate genetic relationship inference using medium-density SNP data.
• Assess the performance of various kinship inference methods.

Main Methods:

• Kinship analysis performed on real and simulated profiles.
• Utilized the Verogen ForenSeq® Kintelligence Kit SNP panel.
• Tested multiple relationship types and seven kinship inference methods.

Main Results:

• Kinship inferences successful up to the fourth degree.
• All tested methods performed equally on simulated data.
• Some method variation observed with real data, indicating need for larger sample sizes.

Conclusions:

• Medium-density SNP data is adequate for extended kinship inference (fourth degree).
• Multiple kinship inference methods are suitable for the Verogen ForenSeq® Kintelligence Kit.
• Findings support using this approach for distant genetic relationship inference in forensics.