Usage areas of microrna (miRNA) in forensic genetics

Abstract

Interest in molecular based techniques increases in every field of forensic sciences. Use of microRNAs (miRNA) in forensic genetics is one of them. The aim of this article is giving a brief information about microRNAs and their use in forensic genetic applications. MicroRNAs are small noncoding RNAs and because of their important features such as tissue-specificity and high stability in specific conditions, they are used in various studies for forensic purposes. In the article, usage areas of miRNAs and promising results obtained from these studies are mentioned. Body fluid identification, organ tissue identification, determination of stain age, wound age determination, post mortem interval (PMI) identification, age estimation of an individual, lesion assessment in strangulation cases, identification of brain damage and determination the abuse of anabolic androgenic steroids are the subjects which potential use miRNA are examined. The limitations of miRNAs in the forensic genetics applications are also mentioned in the article.