Illumina introduced Wednesday a new DNA sequencer for crime labs that the San Diego company said can identify leads from cases that might otherwise reach a dead end.
The MiSeq FGx Forensic Genomics System uses next-generation techniques to test DNA samples, checking what scientists call short tandem repeats, single-nucleotide polymorphisms and other genetic markers.
“The system can be used for criminal casework and in a range of situations, including mass disasters, missing persons, and unidentified human remains,” the company said in the announcement.
The system can use “highly compromised samples” of DNA, Illumina said, and provide “physical information about bio-geographical ancestry and visible, physical traits, including hair and eye color.
“This information is often more reliable than eyewitness accounts and can be crucial in cases where traditional investigation does not identify a suspect,” the company said.
Matt Posard, senior vice president and general manager for new and emerging opportunities, said Illumina set out to “revolutionize the way forensic laboratories process and resolve their cases.”
Illumina has emerged as the global leader in gene sequencing and DNA array technologies. Last March, the editors of the MIT Technology Review named Illumina the “smartest company in the world.”
