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PLoS Genet. 2017 Sep 21;13(9):e1006960. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1006960. eCollection 2017 Sep.

Forensic genetics and genomics: Much more than just a human affair.

Arenas M1,2,3, Pereira F2,4, Oliveira M2,3,5, Pinto N2,3,6, Lopes AM2,3, Gomes V2,3, Carracedo A7,8, Amorim A2,3,5.

Author information

1
Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Immunology, University of Vigo, Vigo, Spain.
2
Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
3
Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Porto, Portugal.
4
Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
5
Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
6
Centre of Mathematics of the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
7
Institute of Forensic Sciences Luis Concheiro, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
8
Genomics Medicine Group, CIBERER, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

Abstract

While traditional forensic genetics has been oriented towards using human DNA in criminal investigation and civil court cases, it currently presents a much wider application range, including not only legal situations sensu stricto but also and, increasingly often, to preemptively avoid judicial processes. Despite some difficulties, current forensic genetics is progressively incorporating the analysis of nonhuman genetic material to a greater extent. The analysis of this material-including other animal species, plants, or microorganisms-is now broadly used, providing ancillary evidence in criminalistics in cases such as animal attacks, trafficking of species, bioterrorism and biocrimes, and identification of fraudulent food composition, among many others. Here, we explore how nonhuman forensic genetics is being revolutionized by the increasing variety of genetic markers, the establishment of faster, less error-burdened and cheaper sequencing technologies, and the emergence and improvement of models, methods, and bioinformatics facilities.

PMID:
28934201
PMCID:
PMC5608170
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pgen.1006960
[Indexed for MEDLINE]
Free PMC Article

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