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Search Publications by: Becky Steffen (Fed)

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Displaying 1 - 25 of 43

Development of a Forensic DNA Research Grade Test Material

October 16, 2024
Author(s)
Erica Romsos, Lisa Borsuk, Carolyn Steffen, Sarah Riman, Kevin Kiesler, Peter Vallone
Advancements in forensic DNA typing technology and methods have resulted in increased sensitivity and, while beneficial, carry the weight of more challenging profile interpretation. In response, the forensic DNA community has often requested more complex

Ultrasensitive sequencing of STR markers utilizing unique molecular identifiers and the SiMSen-Seq method

April 3, 2024
Author(s)
Maja Sidstedt, Arvid Gynna, Kevin Kiesler, Linda Jansson, Becky Steffen, Joakim Hakansson, Gustav Johansson, Yalda Bogestal, Andreas Tillmar, Peter Radstrom, Anders Stahlberg, Peter Vallone, Johannes Hedman
Massively parallel sequencing (MPS) is increasingly applied in forensic short tandem repeat (STR) analysis. The presence of stutter artefacts and other PCR or sequencing errors in the MPS-STR data partly limits the detection of low DNA amounts, e.g., in

Developmental Validation of the VersaPlex(R) 27PY System

November 21, 2023
Author(s)
Kristy Lenz, Stephen McDaniel, Dawn Rabbach, Becky Steffen, Douglas Storts, Robert McLaren
The VersaPlex™ 27PY System is a short tandem repeat (STR) multiplex from Promega that co-amplifies 27 loci. This six-dye multiplex was designed for casework samples and includes loci that meet database requirements for the US (CODIS) and Europe (ESS). The

U.S. population data for 94 identity informative SNP loci

May 15, 2023
Author(s)
Kevin Kiesler, Lisa Borsuk, Becky Steffen, Peter Vallone, Katherine Gettings
The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology analyzed a set of 1036 samples representing four major U.S. population groups (African American, Asian American, Caucasian, and Hispanic) with the ForenSeq DNA Signature Prep Kit, DNA primer mix B

Rapid Production and Free Distribution of a Synthetic RNA Material to Support SARS-CoV-2 Molecular Diagnostic Testing

May 3, 2023
Author(s)
Megan Cleveland, Erica Romsos, Becky Steffen, Nathanael David Olson, Stephanie Servetas, William Valiant, Peter Vallone
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Institute of Standards and Technology released a synthetic RNA material for SARS-CoV-2 in June 2020. The goal was to rapidly produce a material to support molecular diagnostic testing applications. This

MAKE IT "SNPPY" - UPDATES TO SRM 2391D: PCR-BASED DNA PROFILING STANDARD

December 16, 2022
Author(s)
Becky Steffen, Erica Romsos, Kevin Kiesler, Lisa Borsuk, Katherine Gettings, Peter Vallone
Standard Reference Material (SRM) 2391d: PCR-Based DNA Profiling Standard was released to the forensic community in 2019. Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) was used as the primary method of certification, where certified values were assigned when a high

Population data for 94 identity SNPs in four U.S. population groups

September 23, 2022
Author(s)
Kevin Kiesler, Lisa Borsuk, Becky Steffen, Katherine Gettings, Peter Vallone
The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) sequenced 1036 human DNA samples from four United States population groups (African American, Asian, Hispanic, and Caucasian) using the ForenSeq DNA Signature Prep Kit with Primer Mix B (DPMB)

Sequence-based U.S. population data for 7 X STR loci

April 26, 2021
Author(s)
Lisa Borsuk, Carolyn R. Steffen, Kevin M. Kiesler, Peter Vallone, Katherine Gettings
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) U.S. population sample set of unrelated individuals was used to determine allele and haplotype frequencies for seven X-chromosome short tandem repeat (STR) loci in four linkage groups. DXS7132

Interlaboratory study to validate a STR profiling method for intraspecies identification of mouse cell lines

June 20, 2019
Author(s)
Jamie L. Almeida, Aleksandra Dakic, Karin Kindig, Maikan Kone, Deborah L. Letham, Scott Langdon, Ruth Peat, Jayamalini Holding-Pillai, Erin Hall, Mark Ladd, Megan Shaffer, Heath Berg, Jinliang Li, Georges Wigger, Steven P. Lund, Carolyn R. Steffen, Barbara Fransway, Bob Geraghty, Manuela Natoli, Beth Bauer, Susanne M. Gollin, Dale Lewis, Yvonne A. Reid
The Consortium for Mouse Cell Line Authentication was formed to validate Short Tandem Repeat (STR) markers for intraspecies identification of mouse cell lines. The STR profiling method is a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay comprised of

Development and Interlaboratory Evaluation of a NIST Reference Material RM 8366 for EGFR and MET Gene Copy Number Measurements

May 21, 2019
Author(s)
Hua-Jun He, Biswajit Das, Megan H. Cleveland, Chen Li, Corinne Camalier, Liang-Chu Liu, Kara L. Norman, Andrew Fellowes, Christopher McEvoy, Steven P. Lund, Jamie L. Almeida, Carolyn R. Steffen, Chris Karlovich, P. M. Williams, Kenneth D. Cole
The National Institute Standard and Technology (NIST) Reference Material RM 8366 was developed to improve the quality of gene copy measurements of EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) and MET (proto-oncogene, receptor tyrosine kinase), important targets

Sequence-based U.S. population data for 27 autosomal STR loci

July 19, 2018
Author(s)
Katherine Gettings, Lisa Borsuk, Carolyn R. Steffen, Kevin M. Kiesler, Peter Vallone
This manuscript reports STR sequence-based allele frequencies for the "NIST 1036" sample set across 27 autosomal STR loci: D1S1656, TPOX, D2S441, D2S1338, D3S1358, D4S2408, FGA, D5S818, CSF1PO, D6S1043, D7S820, D8S1179, D9S1122, D10S1248, TH01, vWA

Sequence-based U.S. population data for the SE33 locus

May 7, 2018
Author(s)
Lisa Borsuk, Katherine Gettings, Carolyn R. Steffen, Kevin M. Kiesler, Peter Vallone
A set of 1036 U.S. Population Samples were sequenced using the Illumina ForenSeq DNA Signature Prep Kit. This sample set has been highly characterized using a variety of marker systems for human identification. The FASTQ files obtained from a ForenSeq DNA

Expected net gain data of low-template DNA analyses

May 30, 2016
Author(s)
Simone N. Gittelson, Carolyn R. Steffen, Michael D. Coble
Low-template DNA analyses are affected by stochastic effects which can produce a configuration of peaks in the electropherogram (EPG) that is different from the genotype of the DNA's donor. A probabilistic and decision-theoretic model can quantify the

Low-template DNA: A single DNA analysis or two replicates?

April 18, 2016
Author(s)
Simone N. Gittelson, Carolyn R. Steffen, Michael D. Coble
This study investigates the following two questions: (i) Should the DNA analyst concentrate the DNA extract into a single amplification or should he/she split it up to do two replicates? (ii) Given the electropherogram obtained from a first analysis, is it

Establishing Traceability to NIST SRM 2391c: PCR-Based DNA Profiling Standard

September 16, 2015
Author(s)
Carolyn R. Steffen, Margaret C. Kline, David L. Duewer, Peter Vallone
The NIST Standard Reference Material (SRM) 2391c: PCR-Based DNA Profiling Standard was updated in April 2015 to contain new information relevant to the forensic community. Previously, there were certified genotypes for 24 autosomal STR markers plus

Developmental validation of the PowerPlex 21 System.

December 24, 2013
Author(s)
Carolyn R. Steffen, Martin G. Ensenberger, Robert S. McLaren, Cynthia J. Sprecher, Douglas R. Storts
The PowerPlex(®) 21 System is a STR multiplex that has been optimized for casework samples while still being capable of database workflows including direct amplification. The loci included in the multiplex offer increasing overlap with core loci used in

Biology and Genetics of New Autosomal STR Loci Useful for Forensic DNA Analysis

August 19, 2013
Author(s)
John M. Butler, Carolyn R. Steffen
Short tandem repeats (STRs) are regions of tandemly repeated DNA segments found throughout the human genome that vary in length (through insertion, deletion, or mutation) with a core repeated DNA sequence. Forensic laboratories commonly use tetranucleotide

Haplotype Data for 23 Y-chromosome markers in four U.S. population groups

May 1, 2013
Author(s)
Michael D. Coble, Carolyn R. Steffen, John M. Butler
The PowerPlex Y23 kit contains 23 Y-chromosomal loci including all 17 of the markers in the Yfiler Y-STR kit plus six additional markers: DYS481, DYS533, DYS549, DYS570, DYS576, and DYS643. We have typed 1032 unrelated population samples from four self