Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS)
Definition
High-throughput sequencing technologies (Illumina, Ion Torrent, Oxford Nanopore) that produce millions of reads in parallel. For plant forensics, they enable whole-chloroplast genome sequencing and restriction-site associated DNA sequencing (RADseq) for population-level studies.
- What it does
- Sequences millions of DNA fragments in parallel from degraded or trace-amount biological material
- Main advantage
- Recovers genetic data from samples too damaged or scarce for traditional STR typing
- Plant forensics capability
- Enables whole-chloroplast genome sequencing and population-level DNA matching (RADseq)
Common questions
When would you use NGS instead of regular DNA typing like STRs?+
NGS works on severely degraded DNA and very small amounts of biological material that traditional STR analysis fails on. It can sequence millions of DNA fragments in parallel, letting forensic labs extract usable genetic data from old, burned, or fragmented remains that would give no results with conventional methods.
What platforms run NGS in forensic work?+
Common platforms are Illumina, Ion Torrent, and Oxford Nanopore. Each produces millions of parallel sequence reads. In plant forensics, these enable whole chloroplast genome sequencing and population-level DNA analysis to link plant material to crime scenes.
Has NGS actually solved cold cases or disaster victim identifications?+
Yes. The NYC OCME used NGS in the 2010s and 2020s to identify human remains from archived biological material collected after the 9/11 attacks, decades after the incident. This shows NGS can extract usable DNA from samples that failed under older typing methods.
Related terms
- AFDIL (Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory)
- The US military's primary DNA identification laboratory, based in Rockville, Maryland (later Dover, Delaware). Assisted the NYC OCME with 9/11 identifications and...
- CDFD (Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics)
- India's premier DNA forensic laboratory, located in Hyderabad and operated by the Department of Biotechnology. Conducted DNA identifications in the Nithari killings...
- CFSL (Central Forensic Science Laboratory)
- The network of central government forensic laboratories in India, with major units in Delhi, Kolkata, Chandigarh, and Hyderabad, operating under the Directorate...
- DVI Identification Board
- The multi-disciplinary panel in INTERPOL DVI protocol that issues a formal identification: includes forensic pathologist, forensic anthropologist, odontologist, fingerprint specialist, and DNA...
- Environmental DNA (eDNA)
- DNA extracted from an environmental matrix (soil, water, air filter) rather than from a discrete specimen. For plant forensics, eDNA metabarcoding generates...
- JIT (Joint Investigation Team)
- The multinational criminal investigation body established by the Netherlands, Australia, Belgium, Malaysia, and Ukraine to investigate the criminal dimensions of the MH17...
- Metabarcoding
- Sequencing a mixture of DNA from many organisms simultaneously and using bioinformatics to assign each read to a taxon. For plant eDNA,...
- Microsatellite (SSR) Profiling
- Detection of variation at short tandem repeat loci in the nuclear genome. SSR loci are codominant, highly polymorphic, and reproducible across labs....
- NDMA (National Disaster Management Authority)
- India's apex national body for disaster management, established under the Disaster Management Act 2005. Published the 2018 draft DVI framework that called...
- OCME (Office of the Chief Medical Examiner)
- A US jurisdictional office, typically at state or county level, responsible for investigating deaths that occur under violent, suspicious, sudden, or unexplained...
- Plassdata DVI System
- The software platform most widely used for INTERPOL DVI data management, reconciliation, and Identification Board workflows. Used in the TTVI operation, the...
- TTVI (Thai Tsunami Victim Identification)
- The international DVI operation established in January 2005 under Royal Thai Police leadership with INTERPOL coordination to identify the approximately 5,400 international...
Explained in these topics
- Emerging Plant Genomics in CaseworkHigh-throughput sequencing technologies (Illumina, Ion Torrent, Oxford Nanopore) that produce millions of reads in parallel. For plant forensics, they enable w...
- Mass-Disaster Casework: 9/11 WTC, 2004 Tsunami and Indian CasesMassively parallel DNA sequencing technology that generates sequence data from degraded and low-copy-number templates that resist STR typing. Used by the NYC O...