Publications by authors named "Julia Allwood"
Article Synopsis
- * A study analyzed 786 DNA samples from diverse population groups, using advanced sequencing and bioinformatics tools to compare STR variations and calculate frequencies, revealing significant allelic diversity, especially at certain loci.
- * The findings indicate that detailed sequence analysis of STR alleles can significantly improve the statistical approaches used in forensic casework by showcasing how genetic diversity varies among different populations.
The use of environmental trace material to aid criminal investigations is an ongoing field of research within forensic science. The application of environmental material thus far has focused upon a variety of different objectives relevant to forensic biology, including sample provenance (also referred to as sample attribution). The capability to predict the provenance or origin of an environmental DNA sample would be an advantageous addition to the suite of investigative tools currently available.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDNA sequencing technologies continue to improve, and there has been a corresponding expansion of DNA-based applications in the forensic sciences. DNA recovered from dust and environmental debris can be used to identify the organisms associated with these sample types, including bacteria, plants, fungi, and insects. Such results can then be leveraged to discern sample origin or geolocation and investigate individual identification.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF"YFlag"--a single-base extension primer based method for gender determination.
J Forensic Sci
January 2015
Assigning the gender of a DNA contributor in forensic analysis is typically achieved using the amelogenin test. Occasionally, this test produces false-positive results due to deletions occurring on the Y chromosome. Here, a four-marker "YFlag" method is presented to infer gender using single-base extension primers to flag the presence (or absence) of Y-chromosome DNA within a sample to supplement forensic STR profiling.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSNP model development for the prediction of eye colour in New Zealand.
Forensic Sci Int Genet
July 2013
The ability to predict externally visible characteristics (EVCs) from DNA has appeal for use in forensic science, particularly where a forensic database match is not made and an eye witness account is unavailable. This technology has yet to be implemented in casework in New Zealand. The broad cultural diversity and likely population stratification within New Zealand dictates that any EVC predictions made using anonymous DNA must perform accurately in the absence of knowledge of the donor's ancestral background.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- The study constructed the first phylogenetic tree for New Zealand's earthworm species, using genetic data from both mitochondrial and nuclear rRNA genes.
- It identified distinct clades within the earthworm group Acanthodrilinae that are regionally restricted and suggested some lineages have existed since New Zealand separated from Gondwana.
- The research also uncovered about 48 new earthworm species, highlighting the need for further exploration to better understand the biodiversity and ecology of New Zealand's earthworm fauna.