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AFDAA
MEETING MINUTES
August
4-5, 2005
DAY
1
Chair
George Schiro welcomed the 100+ attendees to the Summer meeting of
AFDAA. Peter Vallone from NIST spoke about the current projects in
the area of human identity testing. Affymetrix released GeneChip®
Human Mitochondrial DNA Resequencing Array 2.0, an entire mtDNA
genome assay in 48 hours. Research is being conducted on y-STRs to
separate father - son pairs. NIST is evaluating quantitative PCR
assays (0.5 to 1.0 ng) and the relationship to off scale data, pullup
and locus imbalance.The NIST website is a good source for downloads
covering products, protocols and educational materials
Victor
Lloyd of PMC in Austin presented information on how to improve
process flow through the use of Value Stream Mapping. The process
focuses on eliminating non-value added steps to decrease waste and
increase productivity.
The
SWGDAM update was presented by John Krebsbach from Albuquerque.
Topics under review include:
--Efforts
to combine Y-STR statistics with Popstats
--Y-STR
mixtures
--QA
group
--Expert
Systems - evaluation
--GeneMapper
ID - from initial accessioning to allele calling
--CODIS
- minimum technical requirements for offender data have been established
--Having
a CODIS manager is mandatory
--Hit
counting guidelines are finally automated
--Recommendation
that labs establish staff database and search each case
--FBI
director was asked by the Massachusetts Senators why private DNA
vendors have no access to CODIS. Also, the FBI director was asked why
there is a requirement for 100% review of DNA vendor's data. Private
labs want access to CODIS and the need to allow their access is
there. To date there are 2.4 million offenders in the CODIS database.
2400 investigations have been aided.
John
Planz of UNTHSC-FW reported that the mitochondrial DNA database and
the missing person's database are now separated. The DNA Unit II
(mtDNA) section chief, Alice Isenberg, has implemented guidelines for
mtDNA nomenclature and validation studies. A new version of CODIS
(CODIS MP) combines STR and mitochondrial information.
AFDAA
BUSINESS MEETING
Called
to order at 11:45 by Chair George Schiro. The minutes of the
January, 2005, meeting were approved after a motion by Joe Warren and
second by Gary Molina. The treasurer's report was deferred to the
next meeting. The applicants for membership, along with their
qualifications and sponsorships, were announced by Vice-Chair Brady
Mills. A motion to accept the applicants was made by Brady Mills and
a second by John Planz. The motion passed. In old business, the
by-laws changes regarding that a new applicant be recommended by a
current member, be current on dues and attend one meeting within
three years will be sent for vote via e-mail. This change was
composed by Pam Smith and Wil Young and was approved in 2002, but had
not been voted on.
In
new business, Aliece Watts will again serve as Secretary. Joe Warren
was nominated by Bill Watson to serve as Chair with a second by John
Planz. John Krebsbach motioned to close the nominations with Gary
Molina seconding the motion. Since there were no other nominations,
Joe Warren will serve as AFDAA Chair.
Announcements:
--The
Louisiana DNA meeting will be from November 7-11, 2005.
--The
16th International Symposium on Human DNA Identification will be
held September 29 to October 2, 2005 in Grapevine, TX. Since a good
number of AFDAA members will attend, it was suggested that a
"mini-AFDAA" meeting be held then.
--Jason
Blumenkamp of JBI Scientific Services (www.jbisci.com) announced
that his new company will service any Applied Biosystems products.
The company will focus on Texas and Louisiana initially.
A
motion to adjourn the business meeting was made by Dennis Loockerman.
The
afternoon session began with Yasser Daoudi from the Promega
Corporation presented information on Differex, a new method for
differential extraction that utilizes a robotic platform. The RT-PCR
activates a quencher for each cycle. The end-point measurement of
accumulated product is compared to standard curves to estimate
unknown quantities. This process can be run on the ABI 7000 and 7500 instruments.
An
Expert System (I-cubed) is being developed by Promega and the
Forensic Science Service (FSS).
Dr.
W. Goldstein and Tracy Welch from UNLV spoke on the planning,
development and startup of a Forensic DNA profiling lab in a
University setting. This arrangement will help the City, business,
training technicians, and faculty. The students learn actual
procedures on instruments currently in use in Forensic DNA labs.
Bo
Scales of Scales Biological Laboratory presented information on his
experience with extraction of DNA from bone. Several innovative
techniques have resulted in successful preparation of bone to
decalcify for DNA extraction. Other experimental techniques were
discussed such as results from washed undergarments and clean-up of
amplified products to remove extraneous molecules of master mix.
George Schiro presented interesting information on a 35 year-old
post-conviction case with positive acid phosphatase and p30 results.
DAY
2
The
second day of the meeting began with an update on the reorganization
of Applied Biosystems given by Laura Post. There is a new division
that includes Forensic and Human Identity that now has dedicated
resources, sales force, technical representatives and validation
team. There is new Data Collection conversion utility that is
compatible with GeneScan/Genotyper and GeneMapper ID. Injection time
optimization on all platforms is now in validation. Training sessions
for GeneMapper ID will be held on the AB website on the second Monday
of each month. Four day training courses for the ABI 310, ABI 3100
Avant are held at Foster City or on-site. There are plans for
training on the 3130, Real Time quantitation and advanced
troubleshooting. The 2005 Roadshow will be in various locations with
a 2 day format. NFSTC continuing education credit is possible.
George
Schiro gave a presentation on ethical pitfalls in and out of the
courtroom. Some issues that must be considered include bias,
addressing mistakes and credentials.
Brandt
Cassidy of DNA Solutions spoke about using Promega's Power Plex 16
and DNA IQ in animal forensics. The recent improvement in the Matrix
standard has removed the pull-up that had seen previously.
An
open discussion of controversies in Forensic DNA was moderated by
George Schiro. Issues discussed included the use of the likelihood
ratio or a combined probability of exclusion/inclusion and accurate
testimony that is later misrepresented by others. Post conviction
testing of evidence and its relation to exoneration was discussed. It
was suggested that our organization compile guidelines regarding post
conviction testing to help educate detectives and attorneys.
It
was suggested that racial/ethnic based statistics be converted to
overall statistics. Theta only corrects within groups and not between
groups. It was noted that the client usually wants the most
conservative number, not multiple numbers. Others noted that to
change the use of multiple statistical databases would be a
monumental task.
A
question was raised about the designation of a "mixture"
with a 13 loci profile and one additional peak. Recommendations
included re-injection, re-extraction, and re-amplification.
Explanations for the peak include a tri-allele, chimera or bacterial peaks.
A
defense challenge of contamination of a sperm fraction was overcome
by noting that the lab never had a semen sample from the defendant.
The
meeting was concluded at noon.
Minutes
respectively submitted by Aliece Watts, Secretary |
