Promising new inroads into critical DNA testing has been forecast by Flinders University experts who have applied machine learning to DNA profiling. From medical diagnostics to forensic tests and national security, PCR (polymerase chain reaction) DNA profiling has revolutionized high-throughput sampling this century—but little has changed since it was developed in the 1980s. "Even a small improvement in PCR performance could have a huge impact on the hundreds of thousands of forensic and intelligence DNA samples amplified every year—notably when samples are degraded," say experts, including Flinders University academic Dr.
Duncan Taylor, from Forensic Science SA. The new research, published in two articles in Genes , discovered significant improvements both in the quality of DNA profiling and more efficient PCR cycling conditions with the use of artificial intelligence methods, says College of Science and Engineering Ph.D.
candidate Caitlin McDonald, who led the study. "Our system has the potential to overcome challenges that have hindered forensic scientists for decades, especially with trace, inhibited or degraded samples," says McDonald, who recently presented on the study at the International Society of Forensic Genetics conference ( ISFG 2024 ). "By intelligently optimizing PCR for a wide variety of sample types, it can dramatically enhance amplification success, delivering more reliable results in even the most complex cases.
"Beyond forensics, this system has the c.