Evolution of single‐nucleotide polymorphism use in forensic genetics

Abstract

AbstractAlthough short tandem repeats (STRs) are traditionally the marker of choice for traditional forensic DNA typing applications, single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; pronounced “snips”) and microhaplotypes (MHs) are additional genetic marker classes than can be utilized for generating genetic profile information that may result in new investigative leads and human identity determination(s). For example, when working with DNA samples of poor quality and/or low quantity, a SNP‐based approach could be invaluable in providing investigators information about a person's ancestry and physical characteristics and could provide a viable human identification profile for comparison. In this primer, we briefly discuss the various classes and applications of SNPs and MHs to demonstrate the tremendous amount of forensically relevant information that these markers can provide forensic investigations.This article is categorized under: Forensic Biology > Interpretation of Biological Evidence Forensic Biology > Ancestry Determination using DNA Methods Forensic Biology > Phenotypic Markers