2.

6 Serology and DNA Analysis

Information regarding events which occurred at a crime scene or information needed to
supplement other methods of forensic identification can be provided through forensic genetics.
DNA molecular analysis has been an important method in forensic investigations during the past
30 years and has been able to provide capabilities not found in most of the other forensic
methods. DNA recovered from a crime scene is a power tool which can be utilized to potentially
identify the perpetrator. DNA statistical interpretation is based on a solid scientific foundation,
but interpretations of complex DNA mixture profile can still be subjective and inconsistent under
certain circumstances. Another important capability of DNA is the nature of its inheritance
pattern which enables the utilization of close biological relatives as reference points. For
example, missing persons and disaster victims can be identified through kinship associations
(Butler, 2015; Dumache et al., 2016).
Forensic DNA testing has superb sensitivity due to amplification of target regions with
polymerase chain reaction (PCR). However, the usage of high-sensitivity techniques also means
that contamination from other DNA not associated with the crime sample is highly possible.
Currently, the method used in DNA profiling is based on the short tandem repeats (STR) which
still remains as the primary workhorse in forensic DNA analysis despite the usage of other
genetic markers for specific applications. In the last decade, new biomarkers such as microRNAs
(miRNA), messenger RNA (mRNA), and DNA methylation have been studied and proposed to
be utilized in the forensic identifications (Butler, 2015; Dumache et al., 2016).
Butler, J.M. (2015), “The future of forensic DNA analysis”, Philosophical Transactions of the
Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, Vol. 370 No. 1674, available
at:https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2014.0252.
Dumache, R., Ciocan, V., Muresan, C. & Enache, A. (2016), “Molecular DNA Analysis in
Forensic Identification.”, Clinical Laboratory, Verlag Klinisches Labor GmbH, Vol. 62 No.
1–2, pp. 245–248.