think.change - university of technology sydney · pdf centre for forensic science . ....

THINK.CHANGE.DO

Centre for Forensic Science www.forensics.uts.edu.au Assoc. Prof. Peter Gunn [email protected]

UTS CRICOS PROVIDER CODE: 00099F

UTS: Centre for Forensic Science

Strategic Fit with UTS


Vision and Mission

• Vision: – Crime reduction, reduction of fear of crime, crime

solving and security in general are major objectives for society.

• Mission: – To provide and advance a modern and validated

body of scientific knowledge to address questions that are fundamental to the concepts of national security and public safety, including: intelligence, law enforcement and justice.


Flagship Research Programmes

Fingerprint Detection

and Identification

Forensic DNA in the

21st Century

In-Field Detection of Explosives and Drugs

Forensic Taphonomy

Forensic Intelligence

Drugs & Toxicology


Our recent & current collaborative research

• VicPol / ThermoFisher – current • Australian Museum – echidnas • AFP – hyperspectral imaging • Royal Botanic Gardens • Gene Health Technologies (Ningbo, China) • Beijing Institute of Genomics (Chinese Academy

of Sciences) • NSWPF – fired cartridge cases


Technical capabilities

• Applied Biosystems 3500 Genetic Analyser – Globablfiler®, Powerplex 21®, Compass® forensic

applications

• ThermoFisher IonTorrent® massively parallel sequencing platform


Development of Genetic Markers for the Short Beaked Echidna

Australian Centre for Wildlife Genomics, Australian Museum, 6 College St, Sydney, NSW Centre for Forensic Science, University of Technology Sydney, NSW, Australia

NGS – Illumina &/or Ion Torrent mitochondria


• Echidna blood samples are being provided through collaborating Zoo and Aquarium Association institutions, as well as tissue samples from the Australian Museum collections

• Both captive bred and wild born echidnas being tested to get a range of information

• DNA extracted and then ddRAD next generation sequencing techniques being used to develop Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) markers

• Mitochondrial DNA full sequence analysis also to be applied • Sequences will be analysed and pedigree developed. More echidnas

from zoos in other countries will be tested to obtain as much information as possible about echidna populations



Alexandra Summerell1,2, Greta Frankham1, Peter Gunn2, Rebecca Johnson1

1. Australian Centre for Wildlife Genomics, Australian Museum, 6 College St, Sydney, NSW 2. Centre for Forensic Science, University of Technology Sydney, NSW, Australia



The reproducibility, accuracy & reliability of Low Copy Number DNA profiling using multiple sampling of profiles Armstrong, G. & Gunn P.R.


Validation of the Compass® DNA identification kit

• In conjunction with – Health Gene Technologies, Ningbo, China – Beijing Institute of Genomics – Total of 34 genetic markers


Conclusion

“The Consensus Method produced accurate DNA profiles in a majority of tests. 95.45% of the consensus profiles produced were accurate in comparison to the reference profile. When individual alleles were assessed it was found that 99.79% were accurate to the comparison…………….”


Can the pollen content of sinus cavities infer the time/place of death?

The Retrieval and Identification of Palynomorphs from Nasal Cavities and Their Role in Determining a Location and Season

of Death

Alexandra Summerell (Bachelor of Forensic Biology in Biomedical Science)

11242587

2014


Can the pollen content of sinus cavities infer the time/place of death?


Application of NGS to examination of microbial content of maggot masses in decomposition

Demonstrates the clustering of skin, buccal larval mass, and larval mass samples separated by time. A definite clustering (similarity) of Day 4 (blue) samples is seen. Days 6 (orange) and 8 (green) also demonstrate strong similarity within the groups, as well as Day 10 (purple).


Aims of this project:

Short answer : Yes (maybe !?)


UTS CRICOS PROVIDER CODE: 00099F UTS:SCIENCE

Identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) involved

in the determination of facial morphology

science.uts.edu.au

Presented by: Dr. Mark Barash


African Caucasian Asian

American Indian Aboriginal Polynesian

Cranial diversity in different human populations


Africans (AA)

Caucasians (NAC) Asians

Normal facial morphology variation in human populations


Craniofacial measurements

UTS: Centre for Forensic ScienceCRICOS CODE 00017B

Thank you!


Extending this work

• Uts – Human Research Ethics Committee – Approval for ~ 1,000 samples


Extending this work

• Uts – Human Research Ethics Committee – Approval for ~ 1,000 samples

• Physical data to be collected includes:

– 3-D images for measurement of facial parameters – Fingerprints – Dental images - CT – DNA

• WGS or selected targets • Mitochondrial DNA sequencing


Current personnel

• Assoc Prof Peter Gunn ([email protected])

• Dr Mark Barash ([email protected])

• 4 x Ph.D students • 4 x masters students • 3 x honours students


Any questions ?

think.change - university of technology sydney · pdf centre for forensic science . ....

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