Recent Progress in Forensic Genetics and Molecular Identification
A special issue of Genes (ISSN 2073-4425). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Genetics and Genomics".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 October 2026 | Viewed by 203
Special Issue Editor
Interests: forensic genetics; human identification; next generation sequencing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleague,
Recent advances in forensic genetics and molecular identification are transforming the way biological evidence is analyzed, interpreted and applied in criminal investigations. High‑resolution sequencing technologies, including massively parallel sequencing, have expanded the capacity to characterize genetic markers with unprecedented precision, enabling improved individualization, ancestry inference and phenotypic prediction. At the same time, innovations in trace DNA analysis and enhanced extraction methods now allow reliable profiling from increasingly challenging samples, such as degraded, mixed, or environmentally exposed material.
Emerging approaches—ranging from epigenetic age estimation to microbiome‑based identification—are broadening the scope of forensic inquiry beyond traditional STR profiling. These tools offer new avenues for reconstructing biological histories, estimating activity levels and refining investigative leads. Moreover, the integration of bioinformatic pipelines and statistical frameworks is strengthening the robustness and transparency of forensic interpretations.
This Special Issue aims to highlight cutting‑edge research that advances the scientific foundations of forensic genetics.
Dr. Maria Saiz
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- forensic genetics
- molecular identification
- next generation sequencing
- trace DNA analysis
- challenging samples
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Related Special Issue
- Advances in Forensic Genetics and DNA in Genes (10 articles)
