Forensic STR Sequencing Nomenclature Resource

This resource will support STR sequencing efforts in the forensic DNA community by providing exemplar sequences formatted according to the forthcoming ISFG DNA Commission recommendations, and associated allele frequency data, as well as support for characterization of new loci. This will be accomplished by updating and expanding several existing efforts and connecting them into a cohesive system. First, >2400 existing records contained in the STRSeq catalog of sequences, managed by the Applied Genetics Group at NIST and hosted in a GenBank BioProject at NCBI, will be updated in alignment with the new ISFG recommendations. Then, the STRSeq catalog will be expanded through a review of published STR sequence population studies from the past five years. Next, the STRidER website and database, hosted and managed by the Medical University of Innsbruck, will incorporate the STRSeq catalog to begin performing QC of nomenclature for STR sequence population studies, and will feed back novel alleles to the STRSeq catalog. A string search tool will be developed and added to the STRidER website to provide users with the recommended STR format, connect users with STRSeq and STRidER records (when available), provide researchers a pathway for STRSeq submission of novel alleles, and alert users of known erroneous sequences. Lastly, researchers exploring new STR loci will be able to obtain locus names and positive control genotypes.