APPLICATION OF MOLECULAR MARKERS IN FORENSIC BOTANY

Abstract

Molecular markers based on DNA sequence have become a remarkable tool in the Forensic Sciences for the identification of culprits. Now a day’s majority of criminal cases are being solved based on DNA evidence from different biological materials like blood, boon, semen, nails with skin piece, hair with hair follicle, spores and any plant part etc. available at the scene of crime. Presently, DNA evidence from plants have also played an important role in solving forensic cases and DNA from any plant part found at the site of incidence can be used to locate the murderers, kidnapers, victims or in arresting drug traffickers. All molecular markers are not useful in Forensic Botany, only some molecular markers are used for plant DNA evidence which includes DNA barcoding, RAPD (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA), RFLP (Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism), AFLP (Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism), SNP (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism) and Microsatellites, but the most widely used molecular marker for plant evident is SSR (Simple Sequence Repeats) due to its high reproducibility with great discrimination power and error free results from small piece of evidence.