The Evolution of Molecular Analyses in Forensic Science

Abstract

The development of molecular biological tools and their application to the study of human DNA has had a widespread impact on forensic science in terms of greater accuracy of results and increased use of biological materials. Novel techniques in DNA fingerprinting coupled with traditional methods in forensic haemogenetics will in time greatly increase the contribution of forensic science to the legal process. As technologies for the recovery and analysis of the genetic component of biological material are progressively refined, so will the ability of law enforcement agencies to analyse evidence obtained from scenes of violent crime. This review briefly describes some of the traditional methods used in forensic science as well as the novel DNA techniques rapidly superseding them.

Key Words:

• forensic
• human DNA fingerprinting
• biological materials
• haemogenetics
• PCR