SoftGenetics has added its STR Human Identity Analysis feature to its NextGene software. The new feature enables human identity profiling from pyrosequencing reads, such as from the Roche 454 GS FLX. The feature was developed in collaboration with Mitchell Holland, director of forensic science at Pennsylvania State University. According to the company, the new feature could enable quicker and more cost effective identity profiling compared to conventional capillary electrophoresis techniques.
GenBank release 182.0 is available here via FTP from the National Center for Biotechnology Information. It contains data as of Feb. 16. The new release comprises approximately 124 gigabases and 132 million entries from non-WGS, non-CON sequences and 190 gigabases and 62 million entries from WGS sequences. Uncompressed, the release requires about 479 gigabases for sequence files only. The ASN.1 data require about 394 gigabases.