Selecting mRNA markers in blood for age estimation of the donor of a biological stain.

RNA has gained a substantial amount of attention within the forensic field over the last decade. There is evidence that RNAs are differentially expressed with biological age. Since RNA can be co-extracted with DNA from the same piece of evidence, RNA-based analysis appears as a promising molecular alternative for predicting the biological age and hence inferring the chronological age of a person.

Spitting in the wind?-The challenges of RNA sequencing for biomarker discovery from saliva.

Forensic trace contextualization, i.e., assessing information beyond who deposited a biological stain, has become an issue of great and steadily growing importance in forensic genetic casework and research.

Development and validation of an mRNA-based multiplex body fluid identification workflow and a rectal mucosa marker pilot study.

Molecular identification of body fluids and tissues is crucial in order to understand the circumstances of crimes. For that reason, molecular investigations used to identify body fluids/tissues have increasingly been examined recently. Various studies have proved that messenger RNA (mRNA) profiling is a sensitive and robust method for body fluid/tissue identification.

"The acid test"-validation of the ParaDNA® Body Fluid ID Test for routine forensic casework.

The identification of the cellular origin and composition of crime scene-related traces can provide crucial insight into a crime scene reconstruction. In the last decade, especially mRNA-based body fluid and tissue identification (BFI) has been vigorously examined. Besides capillary electrophoretic (CE) and real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR)-based approaches for mRNA detection, melt curve analysis bears potential as a simple-to-use method for BFI.

Forensic SNP Genotyping with SNaPshot: Development of a Novel In-house SBE Multiplex SNP Assay.

This study introduces a newly developed in-house SNaPshot single-base extension (SBE) multiplex assay for forensic single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping of fresh and degraded samples. The assay was validated with fresh blood samples from four different populations. In addition, altogether 24 samples from skeletal remains were analyzed with the multiplex.

As solid as a rock-comparison of CE- and MPS-based analyses of the petrosal bone as a source of DNA for forensic identification of challenging cranial bones.

Short tandem repeat (STR) typing from skeletal remains can be a difficult task. Dependent on the environmental conditions of the provenance of the bones, DNA can be degraded and STR typing inhibited. Generally, dense and compact bones are known to preserve DNA better.

Automation of DNA and miRNA co-extraction for miRNA-based identification of human body fluids and tissues.

In the last years, microRNA (miRNA) analysis came into focus in the field of forensic genetics. Yet, no standardized and recommendable protocols for co-isolation of miRNA and DNA from forensic relevant samples have been developed so far. Hence, this study evaluated the performance of an automated Maxwell® 16 System-based strategy (Promega) for co-extraction of DNA and miRNA from forensically relevant (blood and saliva) samples compared to (semi-)manual extraction methods.