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: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 25
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 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
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
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.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- molecular forensics
- forensic genetics
- epigenetics
- biological fluid identification
- forensic microbiology
- sexual assault
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
