Introduction to Nonhuman DNA Typing

Abstract

Nonhuman DNA typing is a specialty application that can be adapted in forensic DNA laboratories for both criminal and civil casework. Nonhuman samples can be significant for animal cruelty cases, but they can also serve as associative evidence that helps link people to crime scenes, or suspect to victim. Types of nonhuman evidentiary samples used for DNA typing include hairs or biological fluids from animals, plant tissues, insects, and microbial communities within soil. All these sample types and typing techniques are currently being researched further and could have a great impact on the field of forensic science in the future.