Abstract

Short tandem repeat (STR) typing continues to be the primary workhorse in forensic DNA profiling. Therefore, the present review discusses the prominent role of STR marker in criminal justice system. All over the world, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) profiling provides evidence that may be used to convict criminals, as an irrefutable proof of wrongful convictions, invaluable links to the actual perpetrators of crimes, and could also deter some offenders from committing more serious offences. Clearly, DNA profiling tools have also aided forensic scientists to re-evaluate old cases that were considered closed as a result of inadequate evidence. In carrying out this review, a comprehensive electronic literature search using PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar and Google Search were used, and all works meeting the subject matter were considered, including reviews, retrospective studies, observational studies and original articles. Case reports presented here, further demonstrates the crucial role of forensic DNA profiling in mitigating and providing compelling evidence for the resolution of crimes. For case report 1, there was a 100% match between the DNA recovered from the items found in the crime scene, and the suspect’s DNA sample collected via buccal swab following 15 STR loci examination. Case report 2 further highlights the indispensable contribution of DNA database in solving crime. Therefore, it has become very necessary for developing countries like Nigeria to develop a national DNA database and make policies and legislatures that will further expand and enable the practice of forensic genetics, particularly DNA profiling.

Highlights

  • The word ‘forensic’ originates from forensis, a Latin word meaning ‘of or before the forum’

  • The review discusses the prominent role of Short tandem repeat (STR) marker in criminal justice system and provides an excellent guide for budding forensic scientists in the area of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) profiling, in Nigeria and other developing countries where forensic studies is currently at the neophyte stage

  • The human ‘genome’ has been completely read, if not translated, after a monumental sequencing effort, and today, it is known that the 3 billion bases of human genome that are distributed among 23 chromosomes, houses fewer than 30,000 genes, representing less than 5% of its length

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Summary

Introduction

The word ‘forensic’ originates from forensis, a Latin word meaning ‘of or before the forum’. Until 1980s, identification (determining the nature of sample) and individualisation (uniqueness) of biological evidence relied on applications of histology, microscopy, immunology, biochemistry and serology. Regardless of the significant contribution of protein markers to criminal justice, there was a prominent disadvantage with their limited degree of variability (high match probability). With these methods a fraction of the population could be ‘excluded’ as possible source, to say that the sample ‘did come’ from a specific person deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) typing technologies had to be awaited. The review discusses the prominent role of STR marker in criminal justice system and provides an excellent guide for budding forensic scientists in the area of DNA profiling, in Nigeria and other developing countries where forensic studies is currently at the neophyte stage

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The Lawyer and Jurists

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