STRidER, the STRs for identity ENFSI Reference database

With STRidER, the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes DNA Working Group (ENFSI DNA WG) provides an expanded, enhanced, and updated version of the previously published 'ENFSI DNA WG STR Population Database' (STRbASE) (2004-2016). The concept of STRidER has been developed together with the DNA Commission of the ISFG 1. STRidER is still based on the considerations detailed in 2 and the updates to comply with the technical developments and adaptation of additional STR markers 3.

The task of this website is to make STRidER generally available to forensic laboratories. This website can be used to calculate match probabilities of DNA profiles from high-quality cosmopolitan population datasets, download allele frequency data, provide new datasets for quality control, retrieve information about STR sequence nomenclature, and more. The online platform is work in progress and additional features and population data will continuously become available 1.

In curation of the database, we consider the framework proposed in the first report of the Forensic Databases Advisory Board (FDAB) on data acquisition, data sensitivity and identifiability, and ethical principles to be implemented in hosting data from a variety of population groups 4.

Updates

2024-11-07: STRidER Release 3 is online and holds data from 25 countries on four continents and 40 STR loci: additional countries (Dominican Republic: 22 loci, Kenya: 21 loci, South Africa: 21 loci, Vietnam: 22 loci), additional loci (Saudi Arabia + 21 loci, Switzerland + 5 loci), updated frequency data and 7 additional loci for Germany, updated nomenclature of locus D6S474 5. Allele frequency data can be downloaded (timestamp 2024-09-24). The Forensic Sequence STRucture Guide (FSSG) is now publicly available in its updated version 6.1
2024-09-11: An updated FSSG version is presented at the 30th ISFG Congress and distributed for beta testing via the STRidER newsletter
2023-11-07: The FSSG is now available in its updated version 6 accompanying the publication of the ISFG Recommendations on STR sequence nomenclature
2021-05-25: The path for downloading frequency data from STRidER has been updated to https://strider.online/frequencies/xml or https://strider.online/frequencies/csv
2020-02-18: STRidER Release 2 is online and adds population data including novel STR loci from Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Switzerland and Thailand (timestamp 2019-08-02) along with novel functions of the database. The FSSG is now available in its updated version 5

STR capillary electrophoresis (CE) data

STRidER holds CE STR loci defined in the specifications of the ENFSI DNA WG. These originally comprised 16 loci: D3S1358, vWA, D16S539, D8S1179, D21S11, D18S51, D2S441, D19S433, TH01, FGA, D22S1045, SE33, D10S1248, D1S1656, D12S391, and D2S1338. Additional loci were and will be included in the future based on the availability of high quality population data. Currently, 40 loci are covered: CSF1PO, D10S1248, D11S2368, D12S391, D13S317, D13S325, D14S1434, D15S659, D16S539, D17S1301, D18S1364, D18S51, D19S253, D19S433, D1S1656, D20S482, D21S11, D21S2055, D22GATA198B05, D22S1045, D2S1338, D2S441, D3S1358, D3S1744, D4S2366, D5S2800, D5S818, D6S1043, D6S474, D7S3048, D7S820, D8S1132, D8S1179, D9S1122, FGA, Penta D, Penta E, SE33, TH01, TPOX, and vWA.

STR sequence data

STR sequence data will be added in the future based upon availability of high quality datasets. For STR sequence nomenclature, see here.

References

1 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
2 Gill P, Foreman L, Buckleton JS, Triggs CM, Allen H (2003) A comparison of adjustment methods to test the robustness of an STR DNA database comprised of 24 European populations; Forensic Sci Int 131:184-96
3 Welch LA, Gill P, Phillips C, Ansell R, Morling N, Parson W, Palo JU, Bastisch I (2012) European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI): Evaluation of new commercial STR multiplexes that include the European Standard Set (ESS) of markers; Forensic Sci Int Gen 6:819–826
4 D'Amato ME, Joly Y, Lynch V, Machado H, Scudder N, Zieger M (2024) Ethical considerations for Forensic Genetic Frequency databases: First Report conception and development; Forensic Sci Int Gen 71:103053
5 Bodner M, Ballard D, Borsuk LA, King JL, Parson W, Phillips C, Gettings KB (2024) Harmonizing the forensic nomenclature for STR loci D6S474 and DYS612; Forensic Sci Int Gen 70:103012