Development of a spreadsheet for SNPs typing using Microsoft^R EXCEL

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have some characteristics that make them very appropriate for forensic studies and applications. In our institute, SNPs typings were performed by the TaqMan^R SNP Genotyping Assays using the ABI PRISM 7500 FAST Real-Time PCR System (AppliedBiosystems) and Sequence Detection Software ver.1.4 (AppliedBiosystem). The TaqMan method was desired two positive control (Allele1 and 2) and one negative control to analyze each SNP locus. Therefore, it can be analyzed up to 24 loci of a person on a 96-well-plate at the same time. If SNPs analysis is expected to apply to biometrics authentication, 48 and over loci are required to identify a person. In this study, we designed a spreadsheet package using Microsoft^R EXCEL, and population data were used from our 120 SNPs population studies. On the spreadsheet, we defined SNP types using 'template files' instead of positive and negative controls. "Template files" consisted of the results of 94 unknown samples and two negative controls of each of 120 SNPs loci we had previously studied. By the use of the files, the spreadsheet could analyze 96 SNPs on a 96-wells-plate simultaneously.