Establishing familial relationships plays a critical role in supporting forensic investigations, disaster victim identification and immigration processes. Such relationships can be inferred using various genetic markers, including short tandem repeats (STRs) and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). In recent years, Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) analysis has proven more effective than traditional STR markers for identifying distant relatives. However, the choice of analytical methodology may be considered based on the complexity and depth of the familial connection. 

The ForenSeq® Kintelligence Kit (Verogen Inc.) utilizes Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technology and a targeted panel of 10,230 SNPs for kinship analysis using low DNA input. Although this kit has been validated across several global populations, its performance in East Asian groups particularly in Koreans has not been studied.

In this study, we evaluated the genotyping performance and kinship resolution of Kintelligence using Korean known relative pairs (n = 92) in 4 family groups. This kit properly identified relatives up to the third-degree, but its resolution decreased beyond the fourth degree. Additionally, considering the longest shared centimorgan (cM) segment improved discrimination of distant relationships. Population-specific analysis using the Korean Reference Genome Database (KRGDB) showed that the Kintelligence SNP panel retains high genetic diversity and informative value in the Korean population. Overall, the ForenSeq® Kintelligence with segment-based analysis provides a robust approach for Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy (FIGG) in East Asian groups.

Authors

• Se-Yong Kim (Division of Forensic Genetics & Chemistry, Supreme Prosecutors’ Office, South Korea)
• Ukhee Chung (Division of Forensic Genetics & Chemistry, Supreme Prosecutors’ Office, South Korea)
• Bo Min Kim (Division of Forensic Genetics & Chemistry, Supreme Prosecutors’ Office, South Korea)
• Hye Yeon Kim (Division of Forensic Genetics & Chemistry, Supreme Prosecutors’ Office, South Korea)
• Sea In Kim (DNA analysis Branch, Ministry of National Defense Agency for KIA Recovery & Identification, South Korea)
• Su Jeong Park (Division of Forensic Genetics & Chemistry, Supreme Prosecutors’ Office, South Korea)
• Si-Keun Lim (Department of Forensic Sciences, Sungkyunkwan University, South Korea)