Forensic DNA analysis has revolutionized criminal investigations by providing valuable insights into identifying perpetrators, exonerating the innocent and unravelling mysteries of the past. Various molecular biology techniques, such as Short Tandem Repeat (STR) analysis, Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) profiling, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequencing, epigenetics and DNA methylation analysis, have played crucial roles in forensic investigations. While these techniques offer exceptional sensitivity and specificity, they also come with unique challenges. This review explores the current approaches of forensic DNA analysis, highlighting each technique. STR analysis, regarded as the gold standard in forensic DNA profiling, provides high discrimination power. However, it is limited in its ability to analyze degraded or mixed samples. On the other hand, SNP profiling offers advantages in analyzing highly degraded DNA samples but lacks the discriminatory power of STRs. Meanwhile, mtDNA analysis, particularly useful in cases involving compromised nuclear DNA, presents challenges due to its maternal inheritance pattern and lower discriminatory power. Furthermore, explore the exciting realm of epigenetics and the analysis of DNA methylation in forensic investigations. Epigenetic markers offer insights into gene expression patterns influenced by environmental factors, potentially aiding in the determination of tissue origin and chronological age estimation. DNA methylation analysis holds promise in forensic applications, providing additional layers of information for identity verification and tissue differentiation. Despite these advancements, several challenges persist in forensic DNA analysis, including the interpretation of complex DNA mixtures, standardization of methodologies, ethical considerations, and privacy concerns associated with the use of genetic information. Moreover, the integration of multi-omics data and machine learning approaches presents both opportunities and challenges in enhancing the accuracy and reliability of forensic DNA analysis. Looking ahead, future directions in molecular biology research for forensic DNA analysis involve the development of novel techniques with increased sensitivity, scalability, and robustness. By addressing these challenges and embracing emerging technologies, the field of forensic DNA analysis is poised for further advancements, offering enhanced capabilities in criminal justice and humanitarian efforts.
| Published in | Biomedical Sciences (Volume 10, Issue 3) |
| DOI | 10.11648/j.bs.20241003.11 |
| Page(s) | 51-61 |
| Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group |
DNA Analysis, Epigenetics, Forensics, STR and SNP
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APA Style
Abebe, B., Mitiku, T., Birhane, N. (2024). Advancements in Forensic DNA Analysis: Challenges and Future Directions in Molecular Biology. Biomedical Sciences, 10(3), 51-61. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.bs.20241003.11
ACS Style
Abebe, B.; Mitiku, T.; Birhane, N. Advancements in Forensic DNA Analysis: Challenges and Future Directions in Molecular Biology. Biomed. Sci. 2024, 10(3), 51-61. doi: 10.11648/j.bs.20241003.11
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Download@article{10.11648/j.bs.20241003.11,
author = {Betelhem Abebe and Temesgen Mitiku and Nega Birhane},
title = {Advancements in Forensic DNA Analysis: Challenges and Future Directions in Molecular Biology
},
journal = {Biomedical Sciences},
volume = {10},
number = {3},
pages = {51-61},
doi = {10.11648/j.bs.20241003.11},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.bs.20241003.11},
eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.bs.20241003.11},
abstract = {Forensic DNA analysis has revolutionized criminal investigations by providing valuable insights into identifying perpetrators, exonerating the innocent and unravelling mysteries of the past. Various molecular biology techniques, such as Short Tandem Repeat (STR) analysis, Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) profiling, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequencing, epigenetics and DNA methylation analysis, have played crucial roles in forensic investigations. While these techniques offer exceptional sensitivity and specificity, they also come with unique challenges. This review explores the current approaches of forensic DNA analysis, highlighting each technique. STR analysis, regarded as the gold standard in forensic DNA profiling, provides high discrimination power. However, it is limited in its ability to analyze degraded or mixed samples. On the other hand, SNP profiling offers advantages in analyzing highly degraded DNA samples but lacks the discriminatory power of STRs. Meanwhile, mtDNA analysis, particularly useful in cases involving compromised nuclear DNA, presents challenges due to its maternal inheritance pattern and lower discriminatory power. Furthermore, explore the exciting realm of epigenetics and the analysis of DNA methylation in forensic investigations. Epigenetic markers offer insights into gene expression patterns influenced by environmental factors, potentially aiding in the determination of tissue origin and chronological age estimation. DNA methylation analysis holds promise in forensic applications, providing additional layers of information for identity verification and tissue differentiation. Despite these advancements, several challenges persist in forensic DNA analysis, including the interpretation of complex DNA mixtures, standardization of methodologies, ethical considerations, and privacy concerns associated with the use of genetic information. Moreover, the integration of multi-omics data and machine learning approaches presents both opportunities and challenges in enhancing the accuracy and reliability of forensic DNA analysis. Looking ahead, future directions in molecular biology research for forensic DNA analysis involve the development of novel techniques with increased sensitivity, scalability, and robustness. By addressing these challenges and embracing emerging technologies, the field of forensic DNA analysis is poised for further advancements, offering enhanced capabilities in criminal justice and humanitarian efforts.
},
year = {2024}
}
TY - JOUR T1 - Advancements in Forensic DNA Analysis: Challenges and Future Directions in Molecular Biology AU - Betelhem Abebe AU - Temesgen Mitiku AU - Nega Birhane Y1 - 2024/12/25 PY - 2024 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.bs.20241003.11 DO - 10.11648/j.bs.20241003.11 T2 - Biomedical Sciences JF - Biomedical Sciences JO - Biomedical Sciences SP - 51 EP - 61 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2575-3932 UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.bs.20241003.11 AB - Forensic DNA analysis has revolutionized criminal investigations by providing valuable insights into identifying perpetrators, exonerating the innocent and unravelling mysteries of the past. Various molecular biology techniques, such as Short Tandem Repeat (STR) analysis, Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) profiling, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequencing, epigenetics and DNA methylation analysis, have played crucial roles in forensic investigations. While these techniques offer exceptional sensitivity and specificity, they also come with unique challenges. This review explores the current approaches of forensic DNA analysis, highlighting each technique. STR analysis, regarded as the gold standard in forensic DNA profiling, provides high discrimination power. However, it is limited in its ability to analyze degraded or mixed samples. On the other hand, SNP profiling offers advantages in analyzing highly degraded DNA samples but lacks the discriminatory power of STRs. Meanwhile, mtDNA analysis, particularly useful in cases involving compromised nuclear DNA, presents challenges due to its maternal inheritance pattern and lower discriminatory power. Furthermore, explore the exciting realm of epigenetics and the analysis of DNA methylation in forensic investigations. Epigenetic markers offer insights into gene expression patterns influenced by environmental factors, potentially aiding in the determination of tissue origin and chronological age estimation. DNA methylation analysis holds promise in forensic applications, providing additional layers of information for identity verification and tissue differentiation. Despite these advancements, several challenges persist in forensic DNA analysis, including the interpretation of complex DNA mixtures, standardization of methodologies, ethical considerations, and privacy concerns associated with the use of genetic information. Moreover, the integration of multi-omics data and machine learning approaches presents both opportunities and challenges in enhancing the accuracy and reliability of forensic DNA analysis. Looking ahead, future directions in molecular biology research for forensic DNA analysis involve the development of novel techniques with increased sensitivity, scalability, and robustness. By addressing these challenges and embracing emerging technologies, the field of forensic DNA analysis is poised for further advancements, offering enhanced capabilities in criminal justice and humanitarian efforts. VL - 10 IS - 3 ER -
Department of Medical Biotechnology, Dambi Dollo University, Dambi Dollo, Ethiopia; Department of Medical Biotechnology, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
Department of Medical Biotechnology, Dambi Dollo University, Dambi Dollo, Ethiopia; Department of Medical Biotechnology, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
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