Molecular Forensics and the Genetic Foundations of Forensic Biology
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Biology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 February 2026 | Viewed by 1944
Special Issue Editor
2. Faculty of Medicine of Porto, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
3. LAQV&REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Applied Chemistry, Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
Interests: legal medicine
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Molecular forensics is revolutionizing the field of forensic biology by enabling highly precise identification, interpretation, and understanding of biological evidence at the molecular level. The integration of advanced technologies—such as next-generation sequencing (NGS), DNA methylation profiling, transcriptomics, and proteomics—is reshaping forensic investigations and allowing for novel approaches in the resolution of complex biological and legal questions.
This Special Issue of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences focuses on research that explores the molecular and genetic basis of forensic casework. We invite original research and review articles that delve into molecular-level analyses relevant to forensic science. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to the following:
- Advancements in STR and SNP genotyping technologies, improving the sensitivity, accuracy, and discriminatory power of DNA profiling;
- Forensic applications of mitochondrial DNA and Y-chromosome analysis, particularly in cases involving degraded samples or kinship testing;
- The role of molecular biomarkers in postmortem interval estimation, enabling more accurate temporal analyses in death investigations;
- Biological fluid identification, through protein-based markers and RNA profiling, microRNA;
- Molecular tools in sexual assault investigation, enhancing trace evidence interpretation in complex biological mixtures;
- Epigenetic markers and epigenomic approaches in forensic biology, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and genome-wide analyses, with applications in age estimation, tissue-specific identification, environmental exposure inference, and the contextual interpretation of biological materials;
- Genetic identification of cadaveric remains, including severely degraded or skeletonized samples, using advanced genomic and bioinformatic tools.
Dr. Laura Caine
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
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Keywords
- molecular forensics
- forensic genetics
- epigenetics
- biological fluid identification
- forensic microbiology
- sexual assault
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