Welcome to STRidER!
STRidER (STRs for Identity ENFSI Reference Database) is a curated online high-quality STR allele frequency population database that enables scientifically reliable STR genotype probability estimates and provides quality control of autosomal STR data. A suite of software tools has been developed at the Institute of Legal Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck to scrutinize STR population data and thus increase the quality of datasets to ensure reliable allele frequency estimates. STRidER acts as frequency database and software platform for the development of novel tools for STR data QC and other forensic analyses.
STRidER serves the STR community in forensics and beyond in inter-related ways:
- The high-quality autosomal STR allele frequency database can be directly queried
- Allele frequency tables of STR loci from diverse populations can be downloaded and used for third party software
- Centralized STR data quality control is offered prior to publication and allele frequencies are calculated from the datasets
- Accepted datasets receive a unique and traceable STRidER accession number that should be used when publishing
- Accepted datasets will continously become available online
- Individual STR genotypes are never accessible on STRidER to comply with privacy regulations
- STRidER hosts relevant additional information beyond allele frequencies such as the Forensic Sequence STRucture Guide (FSSG)
The concept of STRidER is outlined in Bodner M, Bastisch I, Butler JM, Fimmers R, Gill P, Gusmão L, Morling N, Phillips C, Prinz M, Schneider PM, Parson W (2016) Recommendations of the DNA Commission of the International Society for Forensic Genetics (ISFG) on quality control of autosomal Short Tandem Repeat allele frequency databasing (STRidER); Forensic Sci Int Gen 24:97-102.
The STRidER online platform is growing work in progress. Additional datasets and features will continuously become available. To receive periodic news and stay updated about STRidER, register here for the STRidER newsletter.