An integrated microdevice for high-performance short tandem repeat genotyping

Biotechnol J. 2009 Nov;4(11):1530-41. doi: 10.1002/biot.200900202.

Abstract

Short tandem repeat (STR) analysis provides genetic fingerprinting of individuals, and is considered as a powerful and indispensable technique for forensic human identification. However, the current state-of-the-art STR genotyping processes and instruments are labor intensive, expensive, time consuming, and lack portability. Micro-total-analysis systems or lab-on-a-chip platforms based on microfabrication technologies have the capability to miniaturize and integrate bioanalysis steps in a single format. Recent progress in microsystems has demonstrated their successful performance for the forensic STR typing with a reduced cost, high speed, and improved high throughput. The purpose of this review article is to highlight up-to-date work on advanced microdevices for high-throughput STR genotyping, and a portable integrated microsystem for on-site forensic DNA analysis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Electrophoresis, Capillary / instrumentation*
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Microsatellite Repeats*
  • Microtechnology / instrumentation*
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis / instrumentation
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / instrumentation*