Forensic DNA Profiling

The Forensic DNA Profiling Facility provides state of the art DNA analysis services of both human and nonhuman DNA. Coordinating with various lab facilities at Florida International University, the facility supports cutting-edge research and teaching and also provides services for local crime labs.

We support local law enforcement agencies including the Miami-Dade Police Department, Broward County Sheriff's Office and Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office.

A researcher's hands are seen removing a sample vial from a tray.

Stratalinker
MiSeq FGx Sequencer
iScan Microarray System
BioRad T100 thermocycler
Eppendorf thermomixer
Eppendorf refrigerated thermomixer
3x Eppendorf 5415D benchtop centrifuges
Eppendorf Vacufuge
BioRad C1000 thermocycler
Eppendorf 5804 centrifuge + deep well plate rotor
2x Eppendorf 5430 Refrigerated Centrifuges
2x High Speed Digital Microplate shakers
PBI barocycler
Maxwell 16 automated extraction system

Freedom EVO-Tecan Robotic Liquid Handler
ABI 310 Genetic Analyzers
ThermoFisher ABI SeqStudio Genetic Analyzer
2x Hybridization ovens (Illumina Microarrays)
Vacuum dessicator
Thermal plate sealer
Qubit 2.0 Fluorometer
Qubit 4.0 Fluorometer
Quant Studio 3 High Resolution Melt PCR System
ProFlex thermocycler (96-well block)
Eppendorf D30 Biophotometer
OMAX digital microscope
Ohaus analytical scale
3x laminar flow hoods

Our facility offers a variety of services ranging from case work to validations as well as support for research. Please contact Christina Burns with questions, scheduling and information on pricing.

Service Description	Unit Base	Internal	External
DNA Fragment Analysis	Per sample	$5	$16
Real-Time PCR (min 8 samples, incl. calib. stds)	Per sample	$14	$34
Cannabis DNA Typing	Per sample	$44	$65
Presumptive species ID	Per sample	$13	$19
Human and Non-human DNA ID	Per sample	$17	$26
DNA Extraction from environmental samples	Per sample	$18	$100
DNA Extraction from biological samples	Per sample	$22	$32
DNA quantification - (min 5 samples, incl 2 stds)	Per sample	$6	$9
Faculty use I (Instrument hours)	Per 30 minutes	$8	$19
Faculty use II (Unsupervised bench work)	Per hour	$24	$35
Faculty use III (Supervised bench work)	Per 30 minutes	$15	$21
Faculty use IV (Long-term use reservations)	Per lab/day	$41	$798
Technical training I (Bench training - new users)	Per 30 minutes	$13	$87
Technical training II (New instrument users)	Per 30 minutes	$6	$21
Sanger Sequencing (amplicons of 40-800 bp)	Per sample	$10	$20
NextGen DNA sequencing run (>30 hours)	Per run	$322	$1123
NextGen DNA sequencing run (up to 30 hours)	Per run	$289	$617
Specialized Lab Tech Services	Per hour	$30	$96
NextGen/Microarray Consultation	Per hour	$30	$44
Project service technician I	Per hour	$12	$18
Project service technician II	Per hour	$16	$24
Project service technician III	Per hour	$19	$28

Facility Research
The research conducted at our facility under the supervision of Dr. DeEtta K. Mills focuses on the development of DNA profiling methods for nonhuman organisms such as soil microbial communities, equines, plants, fungi and others.
Ongoing research projects in our facility include:
- Spatial autocorrelation of soil biota profiles with soil type across Miami-Dade County.
- Study of bacterial growth, on bacteria obtained from soil, in the presence of iron and Oxytetracycline.
- Surveillance of tetracycline-resistance genes (tet genes) within antibiotic-resistant soil bacteria communities found in Miami-Dade county soils and comparison across the different soil types to discover diversity of these genes.
- Investigation of the diversity of Vancomycin Genes in Microbes in Sub-Tropical Soils.
- Comparative analysis of freshwater and marine cyanobacteria to determine the role of iron in community virulence and black band disease in corals.
- Major Histocompatibility Complex genes as genetic markers in the conservation and management of wild equids.
- Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HYPP) genetic profiling for domestic and wild equine subjects
- Coat color genotyping determination on wild mustangs
- Canine olfaction for the detection of pathogens such as Raffaelea lauricola in laurel wilt diseased avocado trees