GeneMapper ID-X
Definition
Applied Biosystems analysis software for STR genotyping. Current-generation tool used in the majority of US, UK, and Australian forensic DNA laboratories.
- Vendor
- Applied Biosystems
- Function
- STR genotyping analysis software
- Adoption
- Used in the majority of US, UK, and Australian forensic DNA labs
Common questions
What does GeneMapper ID-X actually do with capillary electrophoresis data?+
It takes the raw electropherogram output from CE instruments and calls alleles at each STR locus by matching peak positions to a sizing standard and allelic ladder, flagging quality issues such as stutter, pull-up, or off-ladder peaks that an analyst then reviews before finalising a profile.
Why does widespread adoption of one software package matter for forensic DNA casework?+
Common software and consistent allele-calling parameters across laboratories support comparability of profiles submitted to shared databases such as CODIS or the UK National DNA Database, reducing the risk that different labs interpret the same raw data differently.
Does GeneMapper ID-X replace the need for human review of a DNA profile?+
No, the software proposes allele calls and flags anomalies, but a qualified analyst still reviews and interprets the output, particularly for mixed or low-template samples where automated calls require expert judgment to confirm.
Related terms
- Allelic Ladder
- A multi-allele reference standard containing the full range of known alleles at each STR locus in the panel, co-injected with samples to...
- Capillary Electrophoresis (CE)
- A separation technique that resolves DNA fragments by size through a polymer-filled glass capillary under an applied electric field. Single-base resolution is...
- Drop-in
- Sporadic appearance of a low-level peak not reproducibly present in re-amplifications, typically caused by trace contamination. Distinguished from genuine minor-contributor alleles by...
- Drop-Out
- Failure of a genuine allele to amplify above the analytical threshold, typically due to low or degraded template. Creates apparent homozygosity at...
- OSIRIS
- Open-source STR analysis software developed by NIST (US National Institute of Standards and Technology), used as an independent or supplementary analysis tool...
- Pull-Up (Bleed-Through)
- A spectral artefact where a tall peak in one dye channel generates a spurious smaller peak in an adjacent dye channel at...
- Spectral Matrix
- A mathematical correction factor that decouples the overlapping emission spectra of the fluorescent dyes used in a multiplex STR kit. Must be...
- Stochastic Threshold (ST)
- A validated minimum peak height below which allele calls are considered uncertain due to stochastic amplification effects. Profiles with peaks between the...
- Stutter Peak
- A PCR artefact appearing one repeat unit below (and occasionally above) a genuine allele peak, caused by polymerase slippage. Typically 5-15% of...