Dr. George Duncan

George Duncan
George Duncan finished a job as a Visiting Postdoctoral Associate in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Florida International University and is presently Affiliated Faculty at Nova Southeastern University, and an adjunct Professor at Florida Atlantic University. Prior to that he was DNA Unit Manager of the Broward Sheriff’s Office DNA unit in Fort Lauderdale, Florida for 45 years. His present research interests involve the development of applications in forensic genomics, epigenetics, microbiome, and nanoscale sensing. Major research areas also include development of improved forensic and environmental applications for genetic analysis using capillary and microfluidic electrophoresis, DNA sequencing, and environmental qPCR. He has been affiliated with Dr. Jack Gilbert, now at the University of California San Diego concerning forensic applications of the human microbiome. One publication from that work entitled “Detecting personal microbiota signatures at artificial crime scenes” was published in 2020 in Forensic Science International while the original effort was published in Time Magazine in 2015. The most recent publication was entitled; “The genital microbiome and its potential for detecting sexual assault”, published in 2021.
September 21
Investigating the genital microbiome by metagenomic sequencing and qPCR to prove sexual contact

During sexual contact, material from the genital microbiome could be transferred between both partners. This hypothesis could serve as an alternative test when collecting forensic evidence in sexual assault cases. Our project investigates the genital microbiome by deep metagenomic sequencing followed by developing a real-time PCR assay for specific genital microbial taxa with the potential to be signature organisms for the female and male genital microbiomes. Pre- and post-coital genital samples from 19 female and male volunteers were collected, extracted, quantified and amplified using the qPCR-based methodology. Four Lactobacilli species were investigated and tested for vaginal specificity that have been proposed to make up the bulk of a healthy vaginal microbiome, whereas Gardnerella vaginalis is solely present in females with bacterial vaginosis. Results show that during sexual contact, bacteria are transferred that can be used in forensic science to objectively prove if sexual contact occurred.

Dr. Bruce R. McCord
Dr. George Duncan
Mirna Ghemrawi
September 28
Investigating the genital microbiome by metagenomic sequencing and qPCR to prove sexual contact
During sexual contact, material from the genital microbiome could be transferred between both partners. This hypothesis could serve as an alternative test when collecting forensic evidence in sexual assault cases. Our project investigates the genital microbiome by deep metagenomic sequencing followed by developing a real-time PCR assay for specific genital microbial taxa with the potential to be signature organisms for the female and male genital microbiomes. Pre- and post-coital genital samples from 19 female and male volunteers were collected, extracted, quantified and amplified using the qPCR-based methodology. Four Lactobacilli species were investigated and tested for vaginal specificity that have been proposed to make up the bulk of a healthy vaginal microbiome, whereas Gardnerella vaginalis is solely present in females with bacterial vaginosis. Results show that during sexual contact, bacteria are transferred that can be used in forensic science to objectively prove if sexual contact occurred.
Dr. Bruce R. McCord
Dr. George Duncan
Mirna Ghemrawi