Publications

NCFS Biological Evidence Publications 

2019 – 2024 

• Sgueglia J., Holt H, Hanson E, Nichols J, Kalafut T, Khan M-R, Walsh T, Foley M, Brown H, Ballantyne J and Sinha S. Interlaboratory Comparison of SpermXTM and Conventional Differential Extractions Indicated High Male DNA Recovery by the SpermX Method. Forensic Sci. 3, 592-610 (2023). https://doi.org/10.3390/forensicsci3040043  

• Johannessen H, Hanson E, Gill P, Haas C, Bergseth EF, Ballantyne J, Fonnelop AE. Body Fluid Identification in Samples Collected after Intimate and Social Contact: A Comparison of Two mRNA Profiling Methods and the Additional Information Gained by cSNP Genotypes. Genes 14: 636 (2023).  https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-022-02908-9 

• Peters M., Ballantyne J., and Hanson E. Development and Utility of Single Sperm Genetic Analysis Methods to Aid in Sexual Assault Investigations. International Symposium on Human Identification. ISHI Blog post   https://www.ishinews.com/development-and-utility-of-single-sperm-genetic-analysis-methods-to-aid-in-sexual-assault-investigations/ (2023).   

• Hanson E., Gonzalez Tirado D., Bass B., Werking J., Lagace R. and Ballantyne J. Simplified DE Method for the RapidHIT™ ID to Obtain Investigative Leads fromSexual Assault Evidence.  International Symposium on Human Identification. ISHI Blog post https://www.ishinews.com/simplified-de-method-for-the-rapidhit-id-to-obtain-investigative-leads-from-sexual-assault-evidence/ (2023). 

• Huffman, K., Ballantyne, J. Single cell genomics applications in forensic science: Current state and future directions. iScience, Volume 26, Issue 11, 107961, ISSN 2589-0042, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2023.107961 (2023) 

• Huffman K, Kruijver M, Ballantyne J, Taylor D.  Carrying out common DNA donor analysis using DBLR™ on two or five-cell mini-mixture subsamples for improved discrimination power in complex DNA mixtures. For Sci Int Genet 66 102908, ISSN 1872-4973, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsigen.2023.102908. (2023) 

• Hanson E., Dorum G, Zamborlin M, Wang S, Gysi M, Ingold S, Lagace R, Roth C, Haas C and Ballantyne J. Targeted S5 RNA Sequencing Assay for the Identification and Direct Association of Common Body Fluids with DNA Donors in Mixtures.  Intl. J Legal Med https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-022-02908-9 (2022). 

• Huffman, K., Ballantyne, J. Validation of Probabilistic Genotyping Software for Single Cell STR Analysis. Genes, 14, 674. (2023) https://doi.org/10.3390/genes14030674  

• Huffman, K., Hanson, E. and Ballantyne, J. Y-STR mixture deconvolution by single-cell analysis. J Forensic Sci (2022) 00:1-14.  https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.15150 **Selected as a 2023 JFS Noteworthy Article by JFS Associate Editors and Editor-in-Chief 

• Huffman K., Hanson E. and Ballantyne J. Cell Subsampling Recovers Probative DNA Profile Information from Unresolvable/Undetectable Minor Donors in Mixtures. Genes 13(7) (June 2022) 1117.  https://doi.org/10.3390/genes13071117 

• Huffman K., Hanson E. and Ballantyne J. Probabilistic genotyping of single cell replicates from complex DNA mixtures recovers higher contributor LRs than standard analysis. Sci Justice 62(2) (Mar 2022) 156-163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scijus.2022.01.003 

• Haas C., Hanggi N., Hanson E. and Ballantyne J. mRNA and microRNA for Body Fluid Identification. In: Houck M (ed.) Encyclopedia of Forensic Sciences, Third Edition, vol 1, p. 390-401. Oxford: Elsevier (2022). ISBN: 9780128236772.  

• Huffman, K and Ballantyne, J. Probabilistic genotyping of single cell replicates from mixtures involving first degree relatives prevents the false inclusions of non‐donor Relatives. Genes, 13, 1658. (2022) https://doi.org/10.3390/genes13091658   

• Hass C., Neubauer J., Salzmann A., Hanson E. and Ballantyne J. Forensic transcriptome analysis using massively parallel sequencing. For Sci Int Genet 52 (May 2021) 102486.  doi: 10.1016/j.fsigen.2021.102486. 

• Huffman K., Hanson E. and Ballantyne J. Recovery of Single Source DNA Profiles from Mixtures by Direct Single Cell Subsampling and Simplified Micromanipulation. Sci Justice 61(1) (2021) 13-25. Doi: 10.1016/j.scijus.2020.10.005. 

• Javan G., Hanson E., Finley S., Visona S., Osculati A. and Ballantyne J. Identification of cadaveric liver tissues using thanatotranscriptome biomarkers. Nature Scientific Reports 10:6639 (2020) https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-63727-9. 

• Ingold S., Dorum G., Hanson E., Ballantyne J. and Haas C. Assigning forensic body fluids to donors in mixed body fluids by targeted RNA/DNA deep sequencing of coding region SNPs. Int J Legal Med 134 (2) (2020) 473-485. doi: 10.1007/s00414-020-02252-w 

• S. Ingold, G. Dørum, E. Hanson, D. Ballard, A. Berti, K.B. Gettings, F. Giangasparo, T, M.-L. Kampmann, F.-X. Laurent, N. Morling, W. Parson, C.R. Steffen, A. Ulus, M. van den Berge, K.J. van der Gaag, V. Verdoliva, C. Xavier, J. Ballantyne, C. Haas. Body fluid identification and assignment to donors using a targeted mRNA massively parallel sequencing approach – results of a second EUROFORGEN / EDNAP collaborative exercise. For Sci Int Genet 45 (2020) 102208.  

• Roewer L, Andersen MM, Ballantyne J, et al. DNA commission of the International Society of Forensic Genetics (ISFG): Recommendations on the interpretation of Y-STR results in forensic analysis. [published online ahead of print, 2020 Jun 4]. Forensic Sci Int Genet. 2020;48:102308. doi:10.1016/j.fsigen.2020.102308 (2020) 

• Dorum G., Ingold S., Hanson E., Ballantyne J., Russo G., Aluri S., Snipen L. and Haas C. Predicting the origin of stains from whole miRNome massively parallel sequencing data. Forensic Science International Genetics 40 (2019) 131-139.  

• Hanson E., Ingold S., Dorum G., Haas C., Lagace R. and Ballantyne J. Assigning Forensic Body Fluids to DNA Donors in Mixed Samples by Targeted RNA/DNA Deep Sequencing of Coding Region SNPs Using Ion Torrent Technology. Forensic Science International Genetics: Supplement Series 7 (1) (2019), 23-24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsigss.2019.09.011 

• Hanson E., Salzmann A., Dorum G., Fliss B., Hess S., Haas C. and Ballantyne J. mRNA MPS Tissue Identification Assay to Aid in the Investigation of Traumatic Injuries. Forensic Science International Genetics: Supplement Series 7 (1) (2019), 25-26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsigss.2019.09.012 

• Volk P., Holt A., Chen A., Hanson E. and Ballantyne J. Enhancing the Sexual Assault Workflow: Development of a Rapid Male Screening Assay Incorporating Molecular Non-Microscopic Sperm Identification. Forensic Science International Genetics: Supplement Series 7 (1) (2019), 21-22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsigss.2019.09.010 

Highlighted Articles (prior to 2019) 

• Blackman S., Stafford-Allen B., Hanson E.K., Panasiuk M., Brooker A-L., Rendell P., Ballantyne J. and Wells S. Developmental Validation of the paraDNA® Body Fluid ID System – A Rapid Multiplex mRNA-Profiling System for the Forensic Identification of Body Fluids. Forensic Science International Genetics 37 (2018) 151-161.  

• Hickman M.P., Grisedale K.S., Bintz B.J., Burnside E.S., Hanson E.K., Ballantyne J. and Wilson M.R. Recovery of whole mitochondrial genome from compromised samples via multiplex PCR and massively parallel sequencing. Future Science OA 4 (9) (2018).  https://doi.org/10.4155/fsoa-2018-0059 

• Farash K., Hanson E. and Ballantyne J. Single Source DNA Profile Recovery from Single Cells Isolated from Skin and Fabric from Touch DNA Mixtures in Mock Physical Assaults. Sci & Justice. 58 (3) (2018) 191-199. 

• Hanson E. and Ballantyne J. Human Organ Tissue Identification by Targeted RNA Deep Sequencing to Aid the Investigations of Traumatic Injury. Genes 2017, 8(11), 319. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes8110319  

• Hanson EK, Ballantyne J. Enhanced DNA Profiling of the Semen Donor in Late Reported Sexual Assaults: Use of Y-Chromosome-Targeted Pre-amplification and Next Generation Y-STR Amplification Systems. Methods Mol Biol. 1420 (2016): 185-200. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-3597-0_15. PMID: 27259741. 

• Farash, K., Hanson, E. and Ballantyne, J. Enhanced Genetic Analysis of Single Human Bio-Particles Recovered by Simplified Micro-Manipulation From Forensic ‘Touch DNA’ Evidence. Journal of Visualized Experiments 97 (2015), e52612, doi:10.3791/52612.  

• Hall A, Sims L and Ballantyne J. Assessment of DNA Damage Induced by Terrestrial UV Irradiation of Dried Bloodstains: Forensic Implications. Forensic Sci Int Genet 8 (1) 24-32 (2014) 

• Hanson EK, Ballantyne J. (2013) Rapid and inexpensive body fluid identification by RNA profiling-based multiplex High Resolution Melt (HRM) analysis [v2; ref status: indexed, http://f1000r.es.314] F1000Research 2014, 2:281 (doi: 10.12688/f1000research.2-281.v2) – See more at: http://f1000research.com/articles/2-281/v1#reflist 

• Hanson, E., Ballantyne, J. A Y-short tandem repeat specific DNA enhancement strategy to aid the analysis of late reported (> 6 days) sexual assault cases. Medicine, Science & Law. 54 (4): p. 209-218.  

• Ballantyne, J., Hanson, E., and Perlin, M.W. DNA mixture genotyping by probabilistic computer interpretation of binomially-sampled laser captured cell populations: Combining quantitative data for greater identification information. Science & Justice: 53 (2013): 108-114. 

• Hanson, E. and Ballantyne, J. Highly Specific mRNA Biomarkers for the Identification of Vaginal Secretions in Sexual Assault Investigations. Science & Justice: 53 (2013) p. 14-22. Doi: 10.1016.j.scijus.2012.03.007 *Science & Justice Most Downloaded Articles in 2013 (first half of 2013) 

• Hanson, E., Ballantyne, J. A Blue Spectral Shift of the Hemoglobin Soret Band Correlates with the Age (Time Since Deposition) of Dried Bloodstains. PloS One (2010): 5(9), e12830. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0012830.  

• Ge, J., Budowle, B., Planz, J.V., Eisenberg, A.J., Ballantyne, J. and Chakraborty, R. US Forensic Y Chromosome Short Tandem Repeats Database.  Legal Medicine 12 289-295 (2010) 

• Marrone, A. and Ballantyne, J. Hydrolysis of DNA and its Molecular Components in the Dry State. Forensic Sci Int Genet 4 168-177 (2010) 

• Sims LM, Garvey D and Ballantyne J.  High Resolution Haplogroup G Phylogeny in the Y Chromosome, Revealed by a Set of Newly Characterized SNPs.  PLoS ONE 4(6): e5792. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0005792 (2009) 

• Alvarez, M. and Ballantyne, J. Identification of four novel developmentally regulated gamma hemoglobin mRNA isoforms.  Exp Hematol 37 285-293 (2009) 

• Setzer,M., Juusola, J. and Ballantyne, J. Recovery and Stability of RNA in Vaginal Swabs and Blood, Semen, and Saliva Stains. J. Forensic Sci 53 (2) 296-305 (2008) 

• Hanson, E.K. and Ballantyne, J.  An Ultra-High Discrimination Y Chromosome Short Tandem Repeat Multiplex DNA Typing System. PLoS ONE 2(8): e688. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0000688 (2007) 

• Alvarez, M. and Ballantyne, J. The Identification of Newborns Using Messenger RNA Profiling Analysis. Anal Biochem 357 21-34 (2006) 

• Sanders, C. T., Sanchez, N., Ballantyne, J. and. Peterson, D.A Laser Microdissection Separation of Pure Spermatozoa from Epithelial Cells for STR Analysis.  J. Forensic Sci 51(4) 748-757 (2006) 

• Hanson, E., Ballantyne, J. Whole Genome Amplification Strategy For Forensic Genetic Analysis Using Single or Few Cell Equivalents of Genomic DNA. Analytical Biochemistry; 2005, 346: p. 246-257.  

• Juusola, J. and Ballantyne, Multiplex mRNA Profiling for Body Fluid Identification.  J.  For Sci Int  152 1-12 (2005) 

• Alvarez, M, Juusola, J and Ballantyne, J.  An mRNA and DNA Co-Isolation Method for Forensic Casework Samples.  Anal Biochem 335: 289-298 (2004) 

• Hall, A. and Ballantyne, J.  Novel Y-STR Typing Strategies Reveal the Genetic Profile of the Semen Donor in Extended Interval Post Coital Cervicovaginal Samples. For Sci Int 136: 58-72 (2003)