Forensic individual age estimation with DNA: From initial approaches to methylation tests.

摘要: Abstract Individual age estimation is a key factor in forensic science analysis that can provide very useful information applicable to criminal, legal, and anthropological investigations. Forensic inference was initially based on morphological inspection or radiography only later began adopt molecular approaches. However, lack of accuracy technical problems hampered the introduction these DNA-based methodologies casework analysis. A turning point occurred when epigenetic signature DNA methylation observed gradually change during an individual´s lifespan. In last four years, number publications reporting age-correlated changes has risen community now range tests casework. Most predictor models have been developed blood samples, but additional tissues are also being explored. This review assesses most widely adopted genes harboring sites, detection technologies, statistical age-predictive analyses, potential causes variation estimates. Despite need for further work improve predictive establishing broader which analyze appropriate several predictors reported consistency their prediction accuracies (predictive error ±4 years); this makes them compelling tools with contribute help guide criminal