Forensic DNA: Sperm Detection and Separation
Description
The detection of sperm and separation of sperm cells from the victim's DNA is crucial to identifying and characterizing the perpetrator's DNA profile. Improved automation of sperm detection and separation will enable more rape kits to be processed in a timely manner to help solve sexual assault crimes more effectively. Traditionally sperm cells are identified visually in evidentiary samples through light microscopy. New techniques are under development to aid improved visualization of sperm heads and tails with fluorescent staining as well as sperm cell isolation through laser capture microdissection.
Research Projects
The table below presents awards funded both prior to and under the DNA Initiative, which began in 2004.
| Title | Awardee | Amount | Award Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Development of an Immuno-Magnetic Procedure for the Separation of Spermatozoa from Vaginal Epithelial Cells | Research Foundation of CUNY, c/o John Jay College | $196,720 | 2011-NE-BX-K547 |
| Rapid and Selective Extraction of Male DNA From Rape Kits and Other Forensic Evidence Using Pressure Cycling | Florida International University | $349,130 | 2011-NE-BX-K550 |
| Automated Sperm Detection in Forensic DNA Analysis: Implications for Rape Kit Analysis | Arryx, Inc. | $360,748 | 2011-DN-BX-K562 |
| Denver Police Department, Crime Laboratory Bureau: Forensic DNA Research and Development - Sperm Capture Using Aptamer Based Technology | Denver Police Department | $405,812 | 2009-DN-BX-K043 |
| Holographic Optical Trapping in Forensic Research and Development: Application to Rape Kit Analysis (pdf, 67 pages) | Arryx, Inc | $252,026 | 2008-DN-BX-K123 |
| Detection and Quantitation of Spermatozoa | Paternity Testing Corporation | $361,651 | 2008-IJ-CX-K007 |
| Microdevice for Sperm and Sperm DNA Isolation | Oak Ridge National Laboratory | $445,673 | 2008-IJ-R-134 |
| Sperm Capture Using Aptamer-Based Technology | Denver, City and County of | $370,813 | 2007-DN-BX-K143 |
| Laser Microdissection as a Technique to Isolate Sperm Cells and Improve the Analysis of Touch Evidence | Bode Technology Group, Inc. | $191,429 | 2006-DN-BX-K032 |
| Development of a Procedure for Dielectrophoretic Separation of Sperm and Epithelial Cells for Application to Sexual Assault Case Evidence | California Department of Justice | $205,407 | 2005-DA-BX-K001 |
| Development of an Automated System to Detect Spermatozoa on Laboratory Slides | Vermont Department of Public Safety | $214,629 | 2004-DN-BX-K003 |
| Development of High-Throughput Method to Isolate Sperm DNA | Connecticut Department of Public Safety | $123,300 | 2003-IJ-CX-K103 |
Research Articles and Reports
Select a title to view an abstract from PubMed database (National Library of Medicine's) unless a different file type is indicated.
| Title | Authors | Publication | Year | Awardee | Award Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laser Microdissection Separation of Pure Spermatozoa Populations from Mixed Cell Samples for Forensic DNA Analysis (pdf, 100 pages) | Christine T. Sanders; Emily K. Reisenbigler; Daniel A. Peterson | Final Grant Report | 2007 | Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science | 2004-DN-BX-K215 |
| Development of a High-Throughput Method to Isolate Sperm DNA in Sexual Assault Cases (pdf, 31 pages) | Carll Ladd; Eric Carita; Elaine Pagliaro; Alex Garvin; Andrew Crumbie; Henry Lee | Final Grant Report | 2006 | Connecticut Department of Public Safety | 2003-IJ-CX-K103 |
| Laser microdissection separation of pure spermatozoa from epithelial cells for short tandem repeat analysis | Sanders CT, Sanches N, Ballantyne J, Peterson DA | J Forensic Sci. 2006 Jul; 51(4):748-57 | 2006 | Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science | 2004-DN-BX-K215 |
