Associate Professor
Phone: (239) 590-7528
E-Mail: scoticon@fgcu.edu
Office: AB7 431

Dr. Coticone received her Ph.D. in Biochemistry from University of Minnesota and postdoctoral training at University of California, Berkeley. She was a Senior Scientist in the Human Identification divison at Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA (Life Technnology Corp) and has developed several multiplexes being used by the FBI and crime laboratories. Her research interests include developing new and improved methods in the area of forensic biochemistry and chemistry. The major goal of her laboratory is to develop new and improved methods of analyzing DNA and trace evidence in forensics. These studies involve collaboration with federal laboratories including the Department of Justice Crime laboratories, Armed Forces DNA Identification labs as well as private companies.
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RECENT PUBLICATIONS

• Coticone, S., Barna L., Teets, M. (2010) Optimization of a DNA extraction method for nonhuman and human bone. J. Forensic Identification. 60(4) 430-438.
• Coates, C.M., Coticone, S., Barreto, P.D., Cobb A.E., Cody R.B., and Barreto J. (2008) Flammable Solvent Detection Directly from Common Household Materials Yields Differential Results: An Application of Direct Analysis in Real-Time Mass Spectrometry. J.Forensic Identification 58 (6) pp. 624 -631.
• Hill, A., Andrea Van der Veer de Bondt, Reeder, D. and Coticone, S.R. (2007) Stabilizing blood samples using osmolytes in forensic DNA analysis. J.Forensic Identification 57: 530-538.
• Coticone, S.R., Oldroyd, N., Philips, H. and Foxall, P (2004) Development of the AmpFlSTR# SEfiler™ PCR Amplification Kit: A new multiplex containing the highly discriminating ACTBP2 (SE33) locus. Intl. J. Legal Medicine 118:224-234.
• Corazon A De Ungria, M., Roby, R., Tabbada, K.A. Coticone, S.R. Music, M. Tan and Hernanez, K.N. (2005) Allele frequencies of 19 STR loci in a Phillipine population generated using AmpFLSTR multiplex and ALF single-probe systems. Forensic Science International, 152:281-284.
• Budowle, B., Collins, P.J., Dimsoski, P., Ganong, C. K., Hennessy, L.K., Leibelt, C., Rao-Coticone, S., Shadravan, F. and Dennis J. Reeder. (2001) Population data on the STR loci D2S1338 and D19S433. Forensic Science Communications. Vol 3(3)1-4.
• Wallin, J.J., Rinkenberger, J. L., Rao, S., Gackstetter, E., Koshland, M.E. and Zwollo, P (1999) B cell-specific activator protein prevents two activator factors from binding to the immunoglobulin J chain promoter until the antigen-driven stages of B cell development. J. Biol. Chem., 274, 15959-15965.
• Rao, S., Karray,S., Gackstetter,E. and Koshland, M.E. (1998) Myocyte Enhancer Factor related B-MEF2 is developmentally expressed in B cells and regulates the immunoglobulin J chain promoter. J.Biol.Chem. 273, 26123-26129.
• Zwollo, P., Rao, S., Wallin, J.J., Gackstetter, E. and Koshland, M.E. (1998) The transcription factor NF-KB/p50 interacts with the blk gene during B cell activation. J.Biol.Chem 273, 18647-18655.

Patents:

• Methods for the reduction of stutter in microsatellite amplification. Coticone, Sulekha R. and Bloch, Will.) Applied Biosystems, Foster City CA. United States Patent # 7,211,385. Issued May 1, 2007
• Methods for the reduction of stutter in microsatellite amplification. Coticone, Sulekha R. and Bloch, Will.) Applied Biosystems, Foster City CA. United States Patent # 6,841,349 Issued January 11, 2005.
• Method of reducing non-specific amplification in PCR. McLaughlin, Ian J., Coticone, Sulekha R. and Bloch, Will, Applied Biosystems, Foster City CA. United States Patent # 6,783,940 Issued August 31, 2004
• Methods for the reduction of stutter in microsatellite amplification. Coticone, Sulekha R. and Bloch, Will.) Applied Biosystems, Foster City CA. United States Patent # 6,780,588. Issued August 24, 2004