The main objective is to design and validate microarrays for SNP typing for the high-throughput forensic identification of individuals. Three typing platforms have been selected including matrix assisted time-of-flight mass spectrometry, conventional spotting micro­arrays on glass slides and electronically activated microarrays. The tasks are divided into four work packages addressing the following objectives:

1.      Selection of 50 single nucleotide polymorphisms suitable for the identification of persons of unknown ethnic origin, and determination of population genetic frequencies in major ethnic groups.

2.      Development of a highly efficient DNA amplification strategy for the simultaneous analysis of up to 50 independent SNPs in a single assay.

3.      Assessment of high-throughput DNA typing platforms for reliable and accurate multiplex SNP typing.

4.      Investigation of the efficiency of multiplex high-throughput SNP typing using different microarray technologies in forensic casework.