The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released a new forensic DNA reference material, RM 8043, that includes degraded DNA as well as mixtures of high-quality DNA from multiple individuals. This material will help crime labs verify that their methods produce accurate results when analyzing these kinds of samples.

Genetic material at a crime scene often includes DNA from more than one person. The NIST samples can help train forensic analysts to more easily recognize the presence of DNA contributed by multiple people—especially in challenging cases where only trace amounts of DNA are present or the DNA has been degraded due to the passage of time or exposure to the elements.

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