Determining Informative Microbial Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms for Human Identification.

The skin microbiome is a highly abundant and relatively stable source of DNA that may be utilized for human identification (HID). In this study, a set of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with a high mean estimated Wright's fixation index (F) (>0.1) and widespread abundance (found in ≥75% of samples compared) were selected from a diverse set of markers in the hidSkinPlex panel.

Population Informative Markers Selected Using Wright's Fixation Index and Machine Learning Improves Human Identification Using the Skin Microbiome.

Microbial DNA, shed from human skin, can be distinctive to its host and, thus, help individualize donors of forensic biological evidence. Previous studies have utilized single-locus microbial DNA markers (e.g.