A comparison of mini-STRs versus standard STRs-Results of a collaborative European (EDNAP) exercise

here is a general agreement by the European DNA Profiling Group (EDNAP) and the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI) that the reason to implement new DNA markers is to increase the chance of obtaining DNA profiles from highly degraded DNA rather than to increase the discriminating power gained from full DNA profiles. Previous collaborative exercises have demonstrated that smaller amplicons tend to provide improved amplification when the DNA template has been degraded [1] and [2]. These exercises have led to the commercial development of ‘mini-STR’ multiplex kits.