The goal of Dr. Ballantyne’s laboratory is to conduct pure and applied research to improve the capacities and capabilities of forensic scientists to either associate an individual with, or exclude falsely accused individuals from, a particular crime using genetic and biochemical analysis. Research themes include determining the context (‘activity’, what happened?) of standard DNA typing results by RNA profiling and genotyping, aiding in rape investigations by enhanced genetic analysis of post-coital samples, trace DNA analysis, including single cell analysis and mixture deconvolution by cellular micromanipulation.