<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Forensic genetics represents a combination of molecular and population genetics. Personal identification and kinship analysis (e.g. paternity testing) are the two main subjects of forensic DNA analysis. Biological specimens from which DNA is isolated are blood, semen, saliva, tissues, bones, teeth, hairs. Genotyping has become a basis in the characterization of forensic biological evidence. It is performed using a variety of genetic markers, which are divided into two large groups: bi-allelic (single-nucleotide polymorphisms, SNP) and multi-allelic polymorphisms (variable number of tandem repeats, VNTR and short tandem repeats, STR). This review describes the purpose of genetic markers in forensic investigation and their limitations. The STR loci are currently the most informative genetic markers for identity testing, but in cases without a suspect SNP can predict offender’s ancestry and phenotype traits such as skin, eyes and hair color. Nowadays, many countries worldwide have established forensic DNA databases based on autosomal short tandem repeats and other markers. In order for DNA profile database to be useful at a national or international level, it is essential to standardize genetic markers used in laboratories.</p></abstract>

Forensic genetics represents a combination of molecular and population genetics. Personal identification and kinship analysis (e.g. paternity testing) are the two main subjects of forensic DNA analysis. Biological specimens from which DNA is isolated are blood, semen, saliva, tissues, bones, teeth, hairs. Genotyping has become a basis in the characterization of forensic biological evidence. It is performed using a variety of genetic markers, which are divided into two large groups: bi-allelic (single-nucleotide polymorphisms, SNP) and multi-allelic polymorphisms (variable number of tandem repeats, VNTR and short tandem repeats, STR). This review describes the purpose of genetic markers in forensic investigation and their limitations. The STR loci are currently the most informative genetic markers for identity testing, but in cases without a suspect SNP can predict offender’s ancestry and phenotype traits such as skin, eyes and hair color. Nowadays, many countries worldwide have established forensic DNA databases based on autosomal short tandem repeats and other markers. In order for DNA profile database to be useful at a national or international level, it is essential to standardize genetic markers used in laboratories.

Forensic Genetics and Genotyping

Department of Anatomy and Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences

Department of Human Genetics, Faculty of Medical Sciences

Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology

Experimental and Applied Biomedical Research (EABR)

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Forensic Genetics and Genotyping"}

Forensic genetics represents a combination of molecular and population genetics. Personal identification and kinship analysis (e.g. paternity testing) are the...

Forensic Genetics and Genotyping

Published Online: Jul 30, 2019

Page range: 75 - 86

Received: May 09, 2016

Accepted: Jul 19, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/sjecr-2016-0074

Keywords
Forensic genetics, Genotyping, Genetic markers, Databases

© 2019 Katarina Vitoševic et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Forensic Genetics and Genotyping

Published Online: Jul 30, 2019

Page range: 75 - 86

Received: May 09, 2016

Accepted: Jul 19, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/sjecr-2016-0074

KeywordsForensic genetics, Genotyping, Genetic markers, Databases

© 2019 Katarina Vitoševic et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Forensic genetics, Genotyping, Genetic markers, Databases