Forensic Science International[JOURNAL]
Sun
200 papers
Thermal developmental models of a Chinese population of the blow fly Calliphora vicina Robineau-Desvoidy.
Chen X, Chen Y, Wang Y … +2 more , Xu H, Wang Y
Forensic Sci Int · 2026 Aug · PMID 41996980 · Publisher ↗
Calliphora vicina Robineau-Desvoidy (Diptera: Calliphoridae) is widely distributed across the Holarctic, Oriental, and Neotropical realms, and has also been introduced to Australia and New Zealand. Numerous case reports...
Calliphora vicina Robineau-Desvoidy (Diptera: Calliphoridae) is widely distributed across the Holarctic, Oriental, and Neotropical realms, and has also been introduced to Australia and New Zealand. Numerous case reports confirmed that this species frequently colonizes corpses at death scenes, validating its considerable forensic value. Therefore, investigating the developmental patterns of C. vicina is crucial for estimating the minimum postmortem interval (PMI). This study observed developmental duration and larval body length in C. vicina under seven constant temperature conditions (16-34 °C), constructing isomorphen diagrams, isomegalen diagrams, and thermal summation models. The results showed that C. vicina could complete its entire developmental cycle within the temperature range of 16-28 °C. At 16, 19, 22, 25, and 28 °C, the developmental durations from egg to adult of C. vicina were 801.25 ± 6.11, 522.25 ± 6.71, 474.33 ± 10.66, 388.29 ± 4.23, and 384.95 ± 2.83 h, respectively. At 31 °C, C. vicina immatures died during pupariation; at 34 °C, larvae died during the wandering stage, failing to complete the full developmental cycle under both temperature conditions. The thermal summation constant (K) of C. vicina was determined to be 6676.18 degree-hours. The lower threshold temperatures (T) calculated by the linear thermal summation model and nonlinear thermodynamic model were 7.52 °C and 7.68 °C, respectively. The nonlinear thermodynamic model further revealed that the upper lethal developmental threshold and intrinsic optimum temperature of C. vicina were 30.11 °C and 19.50 °C, respectively. These findings provide critical data for estimating PMI based on the developmental patterns of C. vicina. Using the developmental data, the PMI of an indoor death case was successfully estimated.
Prototype of 3D scanner dedicated to forensic practice.
Hamrikova P, Capek L, Vitvar J
Forensic Sci Int · 2026 Aug · PMID 41985323 · Publisher ↗
The integration of 3D scanning technology in forensic practice represents a significant advancement in the documentation and analysis of crime scenes and post-mortem autopsy examinations. Traditional 2D imaging methods o...
The integration of 3D scanning technology in forensic practice represents a significant advancement in the documentation and analysis of crime scenes and post-mortem autopsy examinations. Traditional 2D imaging methods often fail to capture the complexity of spatial relationships and details vital for thorough investigations and their presentation during court proceedings. As such, the use of a dedicated 3D scanner, specifically designed for forensic applications, is essential to mitigate inaccuracies and reduce the need for open tools in forensic practice. Our newly developed prototype 3D scanner offers superior accuracy and reliability in capturing intricate details during autopsies. It is dedicated specifically to forensic practice due to its closed software circuit, which eliminates the need for open tools. It enables reproducibility in any location and features easy-to-use hardware and software, not to mention user-friendly manipulation. Nowadays, commonly used LiDAR scanners have gained popularity in various fields among both professionals and laypeople. Nevertheless, their limitations in precision have not yet been studied. Another problem might arise due to inaccuracies in point cloud data recovery, which can lead to significant misinterpretations with adverse consequences, especially in legal contexts. Moreover, the security of legally sensitive scanned data stored on open clouds remains questionable. This paper will discuss the advantages of employing a high-resolution, custom-designed 3D scanner over the use of commercially accessible, well-promoted devices during autopsy procedures.
Simultaneous analysis of miRNA and 16S rDNA by a multiplex droplet digital PCR system for body fluid source identification.
Xu J, Gao N, Hu W … +7 more , Hao J, Wei A, Zhao X, Shi L, Yu D, Zhao M, Yan J
Forensic Sci Int Genet · 2026 Jun · PMID 41985291 · Publisher ↗
Forensic body fluid identification, crucial for crime scene reconstruction, is often limited by sample scarcity and degradation. Hence, there is growing interest in more stable biomarkers like miRNA and microbial markers...
Forensic body fluid identification, crucial for crime scene reconstruction, is often limited by sample scarcity and degradation. Hence, there is growing interest in more stable biomarkers like miRNA and microbial markers. While each has its limitations, they effectively complement one another. Specifically, miRNA requires complex multi-marker panels to distinguish fluids like saliva and vaginal secretion, whereas microbial markers can identify these readily due to their distinctive microbiomes. Conversely, when dealing with body fluids with low microbial biomass or similar microbial composition, microbial markers exhibit limitations, whereas miRNA can accurately identify them. Capitalising on this complementary relationship, we aimed to accurately discriminate among the five common body fluids (peripheral blood, menstrual blood, saliva, semen, and vaginal secretion). To this end, we optimised a co-extraction protocol for RNA and DNA to maximise information yield from trace samples, and verified its feasibility using laboratory-prepared substrate samples and aged samples (six years). Subsequently, we developed a single-tube, 5-plex droplet digital PCR system. This system targets five specific markers, comprising miRNA markers (miR-451a, miR-891a-5p, the internal reference miR-320a-3p) and microbial markers (16S rDNA of Streptococcus salivarius and Lactobacillus crispatus). Then, based on a dataset of 115 samples, five machine learning models were developed, including random forest (RF), eXtreme gradient boosting, k‑nearest neighbours, logistic regression and support vector machine. The results showed that the RF model demonstrated the optimal identification performance, achieving 100% accuracy on a validation set (30% of the total 115 samples). The method was further validated for robustness using 25 external test samples, 45 substrate samples (e.g., toilet paper, cotton swabs, underwear) and 15 aged samples, achieving prediction accuracies of 100%, 100%, and 93%, respectively. Sensitivity assessment established the detection limits for each body fluid, ranging from 0.3 pg (vaginal secretion DNA) to 0.3 ng (semen miRNA). Subsequently, three samples per body fluid were selected for sensitivity stability verification, achieving 100% prediction accuracy. These results demonstrate that this integrated method is a robust and promising tool for forensic practice, highlighting the significant potential of strategies that combine multiple markers to address complex identification challenges.
A novel forensic protocol for age reversal facial approximation from elderly skulls using computed tomography scans, CAD techniques and anthropometric data.
Nasca G, Ioime G, Pellegrini A … +4 more , Ianora AAS, Introna F, Di Gioia E, Galantucci LM
Forensic Sci Int · 2026 Aug · PMID 41967273 · Publisher ↗
This study presents a detailed protocol for reconstructing a realistic youthful face from the skull of an elderly individual, based on Computed Tomography (CT) scans. The methodology addresses critical age-related change...
This study presents a detailed protocol for reconstructing a realistic youthful face from the skull of an elderly individual, based on Computed Tomography (CT) scans. The methodology addresses critical age-related changes, including mandibular displacement, tooth loss, and the degradation of supporting bone structures. The soft tissue reconstruction adheres to current forensic anthropology standards, utilizing average soft tissue thickness measurements at key landmarks. These measurements are derived from statistical analyses of large datasets that consider factors like ethnicity, age, and Body Mass Index (BMI) to ensure accuracy. Computational workflow integrates open-source facial modeling software with advanced Computer-Aided Design (CAD) techniques typically used in prosthetic dentistry. This approach allows for the functional repositioning of the mandible and the digital reconstruction of missing dentoalveolar structures. The research relies on existing anthropometric databases, with additional soft tissue data sourced from the FACEBASE 3D database to fill any informational gaps. The effectiveness of this developed methodology was demonstrated through a case study: the forensic facial approximation of the youthful appearance of Blessed Giacomo Illirico of Bitetto, who died in 1496. This application served as a real-world test of the protocol's ability to scientifically reverse the effects of aging on facial structure, providing a scientifically grounded visualization of his younger self.
Removal of cyanoacrylate residues from compact discs (CDs) while preserving digital evidence.
Arat D, Arat O, Gumustas M … +1 more , Cantürk N
Forensic Sci Int · 2026 Aug · PMID 41967272 · Publisher ↗
The preservation of digital data during fingermark development is critical to maintaining the evidential integrity of optical storage media in forensic investigations. Cyanoacrylate (CA) fuming, a widely used technique f...
The preservation of digital data during fingermark development is critical to maintaining the evidential integrity of optical storage media in forensic investigations. Cyanoacrylate (CA) fuming, a widely used technique for visualizing latent fingermarks, may leave polymerized residues that threaten the structural and data integrity of compact discs (CDs). This study aimed to identify a safe and effective cleaning approach that enables complete data recovery after CA fuming and subsequent dye staining without causing physical or chemical degradation of the substrate. A three-phase experimental protocol was designed, including pre-examination, formulation, and validation stages. During preliminary testing, various solvent systems were screened for their ability to remove polymerized CA while preserving disc readability. An acetone-methanol mixture in a 1:2 (v/v) ratio was determined to be optimal, effectively dissolving CA and dye residues without inducing delamination or deformation of the data layer. Validation experiments using CDs from multiple manufacturers confirmed full data accessibility after treatment, verified by sector-by-sector readout analysis. The results demonstrate that this formulation provides a practical and reproducible post-development cleaning procedure for forensic laboratories. Given its compatibility with optically sensitive polymeric substrates, the proposed method offers a reliable approach to balancing fingermark visualization and digital data preservation in forensic chemistry practice.
Development and forensic evaluation of an 8-dye Multi-InDel multiplex panel for highly degraded samples.
Jia H, Jiang B, Wang F … +12 more , Wang Y, Fu X, Liang B, Qu W, Liu Y, Liu L, Xie Q, Zheng F, Wen D, Tang X, Zha L, Li J
Forensic Sci Int · 2026 Aug · PMID 41967271 · Publisher ↗
The analysis of highly degraded DNA samples remains a significant challenge in forensic genetics. Multi-InDel present several advantages-including high polymorphisms, short amplicons, low mutation rates, and the absence...
The analysis of highly degraded DNA samples remains a significant challenge in forensic genetics. Multi-InDel present several advantages-including high polymorphisms, short amplicons, low mutation rates, and the absence of stutter artifacts-making it an ideal genetic marker for genotyping highly degraded samples. Conventional 5-dye systems commonly used for highly degraded samples often accommodate only a limited number of loci because of the requirement for short amplicons and the restricted number of fluorescent channels. This constraint reduces the forensic efficacy of the system, particularly in paternity testing involving highly degraded samples. As a validated technology, 8-dye fluorescence technology enables the inclusion of more loci with short amplicons and shows considerable promise as an effective tool for the forensic analysis of highly degraded samples. This study introduces an 8-dye Multi-InDel panel capable of simultaneously detecting 28 autosomal Multi-InDel loci. All Multi-InDel loci were engineered to yield amplicons not more than 125 bp in length to enhance compatibility with highly degraded samples. Full genotyping profiles were successfully obtained from samples containing as little as 62.5 pg of DNA. Notably, even after 100 min of thermal degradation at 100°C, the 28 Multi-InDel panel retained an allele detection rate of 100%, whereas the commercial STR kit detected only 26.2% of alleles. The system demonstrated excellent forensic efficiency, with a cumulative matching probability (CMP) of 2.3292 × 10 and a cumulative probability of exclusion (CPE) of 0.9999669. The mean cumulative paternity index (CPI) across the 49 parent-offspring trios was 2.18 × 10⁷, and all 2352 Mendelianinconsistent trios were correctly excluded from paternity. Taken together, our results demonstrate that the 28 Multi-InDel panel performed in full agreement with the Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods (SWGDAM) guidelines, and could be a practical, robust, and efficient strategy for the forensic identification of highly degraded samples.
Thermogravimetric analysis: A new tool for dating human teeth.
Rubio L, Delgado-Ruiz A, Lozano-Peral D … +2 more , Suárez J, Martin-de-Las-Heras S
Forensic Sci Int · 2026 Aug · PMID 41967270 · Publisher ↗
Dating human skeletal remains is a major challenge in forensic science. The aim of this study is to correlate dating intervals related to the time elapsed since tooth extraction and the mass loss of human teeth, measured...
Dating human skeletal remains is a major challenge in forensic science. The aim of this study is to correlate dating intervals related to the time elapsed since tooth extraction and the mass loss of human teeth, measured using thermogravimetry analysis in two different atmospheres: air and nitrogen. Forty healthy human teeth were stored for different periods after extraction (0, 10, 25, 50 years; N = 10/group) under controlled laboratory conditions. Thermogravimetric parameters (total percentage of mass loss, and percentage of mass loss in Step 1, Step 2 and Step 3) and derivatives of thermogravimetric parameters (temperature of maximum mass loss at Peak 1, Peak 2 and Peak 3) were quantified. Binary logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were applied to assess the ability of these parameters to discriminate among the 10-, 25-, and 50-year intervals. Dating accuracy was consistently higher in air than in nitrogen atmosphere. Using thermogravimetric parameters, predictive formulas capable of distinguishing the different dating intervals with high precision were developed. The method achieved excellent performance to estimate 10-, 25-, and 50-year intervals in the air atmosphere, with areas under the ROC curves (AUC) ranging from 0.95 to 1.00. The results highlight thermogravimetric analysis as a promising technique for accurately estimating the time elapsed since tooth extraction in human teeth stored under controlled conditions.
A nanopore sequencing scheme for MiniHap markers and its application in kinship analysis.
Liu B, Zhu Q, Jiang L … +10 more , Sun C, Yao H, Zhou C, Wang C, Yang Y, Wang X, Zhang Z, Zhou Y, Luo H, Song F
Forensic Sci Int Genet · 2026 Jun · PMID 41965215 · Publisher ↗
Kinship testing based on genetic correlation is one of the primary tasks in forensic genetics. Currently, microhaplotypes (MHs) have become a research hotspot in the field of forensic genetics. Traditional MHs are define...
Kinship testing based on genetic correlation is one of the primary tasks in forensic genetics. Currently, microhaplotypes (MHs) have become a research hotspot in the field of forensic genetics. Traditional MHs are defined as tightly linked SNPs within short fragments of up to 300 bp. In recent years, nanopore sequencing technology has advanced rapidly. Leveraging its prominent capability for sequencing long contiguous DNA fragments, it enables the detection of longer haplotype markers. MiniHaps are defined as DNA fragments up to 800 bp in length, containing at least five SNPs. Compared to traditional MHs, MiniHaps exhibit significantly higher allele diversity, with a mean effective number of alleles (A) exceeding 12. In this proof-of-concept study, we utilized Oxford Nanopore sequencing to investigate haplotype data for 68 selected MiniHaps in 32 individuals from a large real pedigree encompassing kinship relationships up to the ninth degree. Subsequently, allele (haplotype) frequencies, forensic parameters, and the effective number of alleles were calculated. The cumulative match probability (CMP) and cumulative power of exclusion (CPE) for this MiniHap panel were 3.2079 × 10 and 1-1.50636 × 10, respectively. Different analysis methods were applied to both simulated and real data, under assumptions accounting for and ignoring relatedness. The results indicate that the 68 MiniHaps show promise for distinguishing third-degree relative pairs from unrelated individuals. However, their effectiveness for more distant relationships is suboptimal. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of Oxford Nanopore sequencing devices for MiniHap detection and suggest the potential of this novel marker system in kinship analysis.
Forensic DNA extraction from decomposed human soft tissues: Optimization using ethanol treatment and surfactant-based lysis conditions.
Kim GE, Jung EB, Lee SE … +3 more , Lee DY, Kim H, Kim MY
Forensic Sci Int · 2026 Aug · PMID 41965147 · Publisher ↗
Recovery of usable DNA from postmortem human remains is frequently limited by extensive degradation due to decomposition, which may compromise downstream genetic profiling. This study aimed to optimize DNA extraction fro...
Recovery of usable DNA from postmortem human remains is frequently limited by extensive degradation due to decomposition, which may compromise downstream genetic profiling. This study aimed to optimize DNA extraction from decomposed human soft tissues by evaluating a modified protocol adopting chilled ethanol treatment and/or surfactant-based lysis and chaotropic binding chemistry. A total of 225 soft tissue samples from eight organs (heart, liver, kidney, lung, brain, pectoralis muscle, iliacus muscle, and uterus) were obtained from 30 forensic autopsy cases representing across postmortem stages. Three extraction protocols were compared: a standard silica-column method, a modified protocol with chilled ethanol pretreatment, and a combined protocol with ethanol pretreatment and alternative buffers, such as SDS/Triton X-100 surfactant lysis buffer and a guanidine hydrochloride-based binding buffer. DNA yield and purity were assessed using spectrophotometry, while double-stranded DNA concentration and degradation index were evaluated using fluorometric quantification and quantitative PCR. STR profiling performance was examined by analyzing mismatch, drop-in, and drop-out rates as well as peak heights. Ethanol pretreatment significantly increased DNA yield across most tissue types and postmortem stages, while the combined protocol further improved DNA recovery and purity. Fluorometric and qPCR analyses confirmed higher double-stranded DNA concentrations under the modified protocols compared with the standard method. Differences in the degradation index were limited, indicating that the modified protocols produced balanced recovery of short and long DNA fragments. STR analysis demonstrated reduced mismatch, drop-in, and drop-out rates and higher peak heights across most tissue types and postmortem stages, with the benefits becoming more pronounced as decomposition progressed. These findings indicate that optimized extraction strategies can enhance STR profiling success from decomposed remains and broaden the range of postmortem specimens suitable for forensic genetic analysis from traditionally used hard tissues to a wider range of soft tissues.
Age-associated DNA methylation loci at lncRNA genomic regions revealed by Oxford Nanopore whole-genome sequencing using four methylation callers.
Tiras F, Cole C, Gray A
Forensic Sci Int Genet · 2026 Jun · PMID 41962223 · Publisher ↗
Accurate age inference from biological material is an essential component of forensic investigations. DNA methylation is a particularly informative biomarker, yet most current forensic approaches rely on bisulphite conve...
Accurate age inference from biological material is an essential component of forensic investigations. DNA methylation is a particularly informative biomarker, yet most current forensic approaches rely on bisulphite conversion, which can degrade DNA and limit applicability to compromised samples. Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) enables direct detection of methylated cytosines from native DNA and therefore represents a promising alternative for epigenetic age inference. In this study, whole-genome ONT sequencing was performed on buccal DNA samples from 26 individuals aged 21-77 years to identify novel age-associated methylation signatures beyond previously established CpG markers. Sequencing was conducted on MinION R9.4.1 flow cells with Remora-optimised GPU basecalling, followed by alignment to GRCh38 and read-level quality filtering (Q ≥ 10). DNA methylation was profiled using four independent tools (Nanopolish, DeepSignal, Megalodon and Remora). To maximise reliability, we applied a stringent coverage filter, retaining only sites with at least 100 reads per site read depth, and considered as candidates only those loci that showed consistent age-methylation trends across all four methods. Under these conditions, multiple genomic coordinates exhibited strong correlations with chronological age (R² > 0.95). Strikingly, a substantial proportion of these high-confidence sites clustered within the same lncRNA loci on chromosome 21 (ENSG00000280441, ENSG00000278996), indicating that DNA methylation at lncRNA genomic loci changes is reproducibly detected even after rigorous quality and coverage filtering. Additional highly correlated sites were located in unannotated genomic regions, suggesting the presence of previously unrecognised epigenetic elements. These results expand the catalogue of candidate age-associated methylation markers, highlight the robustness of lncRNA-linked signals under strict bioinformatic filtering, and underscore the value of ONT sequencing for genome-wide epigenetic discovery in forensic age inference.
Standoff and non-destructive detection of bloodstains via mid-IR diffuse reflectance spectroscopy.
Flores YV, Hugger S, Haertelt M
Forensic Sci Int · 2026 Aug · PMID 41950721 · Publisher ↗
A promising approach to the standoff detection of blood is the use of mid-infrared (IR) diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, by which the presence of the proteinic Amide I and II bands in presumptive bloodstains is verified...
A promising approach to the standoff detection of blood is the use of mid-infrared (IR) diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, by which the presence of the proteinic Amide I and II bands in presumptive bloodstains is verified. Because the molecular vibrational response of the Amide I and II bands lies within the ∼1500-1700 cm region, samples are illuminated with a spectrally broadband IR laser, and the back-scattered spectrum is then collected and analysed in real time. Unfortunately, absorption by water vapour falls within the same spectral region, leading to spectral distortions at several specific wavenumber positions. These distortions are stronger for bloodstains on porous substrates and also at increased standoff distances, hindering detection. In this work, three spectral processing algorithms are evaluated for application in such scenarios, enabling the extraction of useful information even from highly distorted spectra. Depending on the substrate, a considerable improvement in the maximum standoff distance for passive bloodstains of up to 2.0 m is demonstrated, and standoff measurement results on porous substrates (denim, cotton, kitchen paper) are also presented. The approach discussed here can be extended to any target substance (besides blood) that exhibits molecular fingerprint signatures in the IR water vapour absorptive range. © 2026 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Fingerprint pattern distributions under the Vucetich and Henry systems: A large-scale statistical assessment with cross-national comparisons.
Gomes GÂDS, Matsushita RY, Araújo MEC
Forensic Sci Int · 2026 Aug · PMID 41950720 · Publisher ↗
This study presents a comprehensive statistical analysis of fingerprint general patterns in a Brazilian dataset of more than 500,000 individuals. Using both the Vucetich and Henry systems, we examined the distribution of...
This study presents a comprehensive statistical analysis of fingerprint general patterns in a Brazilian dataset of more than 500,000 individuals. Using both the Vucetich and Henry systems, we examined the distribution of arches, whorls, internal/external loops, and ulnar/radial loops across finger type, sex, and geographic origin. Chi-square tests, non-parametric methods, effect size metrics, and Z-tests for proportions were applied, together with cross-national comparisons using large datasets from the United States (FBI/NIST) and the Netherlands. The results demonstrate that finger type emerged as the dominant factor associated with general pattern distribution, explaining the vast majority of the observed variance in both classification frameworks. Sex and geographic origin produced statistically significant but weak effects, detectable primarily due to the large sample size. Finger-specific patterning showed strong bilateral coherence and remarkable stability, reinforcing the developmental robustness of Level 1 details. Cross-national comparisons revealed highly similar distributional structures among Brazilian, American, and Dutch samples, with comparable trends also observed in smaller datasets from Sweden, Algeria, and Spain. Overall, the findings demonstrate that friction ridge general patterns provide both a stable basis for forensic identification and a sensitive, though subtle, indicator of population structure when extremely large datasets are available. Taken together, these results highlight that anatomical determinants overwhelmingly shape pattern distribution, whereas demographic influences-although statistically detectable-are consistently small in practical magnitude. This dual structure underscores the simultaneous forensic reliability and anthropological sensitivity of Level 1 details, reinforcing their applicability across jurisdictions and classification systems.
Erroneous D7S820 genotypes caused by X.1 artefact removal in ForenSeq™ UAS v2.7.0 and their impact on forensic analyses.
Codoñer-Alejos A, Carbó-Ramírez S, Ruiz-Ramírez J … +5 more , Gil A, Bernat C, Soriano-Chirona V, Gonzalez-Candelas F, Martinez-Priego L
Forensic Sci Int Genet · 2026 Jun · PMID 41946277 · Publisher ↗
The latest release of ForenSeq™ Universal Analysis Software (UAS), version 2.7.0, introduces several major upgrades, including the implementation of bracketed formatting for short tandem repeats (STRs) and adoption of th...
The latest release of ForenSeq™ Universal Analysis Software (UAS), version 2.7.0, introduces several major upgrades, including the implementation of bracketed formatting for short tandem repeats (STRs) and adoption of the International Society for Forensic Genetics minimum STR reporting range. Among these features, a new filter was implemented to remove the X.1 artefacts observed at the D7S820 locus, thereby reducing noise and simplifying data interpretation. In the present work, we evaluated the prevalence of X.1 artefacts, examined the behaviour of the new filtering implementation in UAS, and compared its performance with alternative analysis software. Our analysis revealed that samples containing genuine X.1 intermediate alleles presented incorrect allele assignments at the D7S820 locus, highlighting a potential impact on casework analyses.
DNA methylation-based assay and Random Forest classification model for identification of biological materials.
Schmelzer L, Haehn F, Schmidt U … +1 more , Naue J
Forensic Sci Int Genet · 2026 Jun · PMID 41946276 · Publisher ↗
Determination of the biological origin of trace material is an important forensic tool for supporting crime investigations. Differentially methylated DNA positions (DMPs) can be used to discriminate among forensically re...
Determination of the biological origin of trace material is an important forensic tool for supporting crime investigations. Differentially methylated DNA positions (DMPs) can be used to discriminate among forensically relevant biological materials. In this study we developed and validated a multiplex assay that targets 13 DMPs using combined bisulfite conversion and SNaPshot (single-base extension) analysis for the identification of semen, blood, menstrual blood, vaginal secretion, nasal secretion, saliva, and skin swabs. The assay also incorporates a DNA methylation site for sex determination and two sites for control of bisulfite conversion. We evaluated the specificity of DMPs for their intended biological material and uncovered previously unknown overlapping DNA methylation profiles by additionally testing buccal mucosa and hair root samples. To translate DNA methylation levels into biological source predictions, two Random Forest (RF) models were built: RF1 for identifying single‑component samples (trained on 284 experimental single-component samples) and RF2 for predicting both single‑component samples and mixtures (trained on 284 experimental single-component samples and 2870 in-silico-generated mixtures). In validation experiments RF1 achieved high accuracy for identification of single-component samples (92.7%, tested on 124 samples). The prediction performance is limited to bisulfite-conversion input of 1 ng down to 0.25 ng DNA depending on the biological material. Analyzing two-component mixtures, the strong linear correlation between the DNA methylation levels and mixture component proportions was confirmed. In-silico mixture approach of RF2 showed a promising performance to identify even unbalanced experimental mixed samples (n = 120), proving the potential for practical applications.
What's new on the market? Combining internet traces and pretrained language models to recognize emerging drug names.
Grenier G, Charest M, Esseiva P … +1 more , Rossy Q
Forensic Sci Int · 2026 Aug · PMID 41946262 · Publisher ↗
Posts and comments published by users in online forum discussions provide valuable insights and might contain the earliest traces of new substances emerging on the market. However, the systematic recognition of emerging...
Posts and comments published by users in online forum discussions provide valuable insights and might contain the earliest traces of new substances emerging on the market. However, the systematic recognition of emerging new psychoactive substances (NPS) remains an important challenge for both public health agencies and law enforcement authorities. Large volumes of messages published by users, combined with the unstructured nature of text, complicate the retrieval of relevant information like drug name mentions. Common approaches based on keywords matching (e.g., regular expressions) limit current monitoring systems, as they can only detect known terms. Consequently, new or previously unseen drug names may remain undetected, leaving novel NPS under active discussion potentially overlooked. To address this challenge, we introduce DrugRecon, a RoBERTa based pretrained language model specifically fine-tuned for drug name recognition. The model was trained and evaluated on a manually annotated corpus of posts and comments collected from drug-related sections of three online forums (Drugs-Forum, Dread, and Reddit). A data augmentation strategy was applied during fine-tuning to improve generalization to previously unseen drug names. To demonstrate its applicability in real-world settings, DrugRecon was applied to posts and comments published between April and June 2025 across the three forums. The model successfully recognized drug names absent from existing lexicons, highlighting its capacity to detect emerging terminology. By combining automatic recognition with expert validation, 12 names were classified as denoting potential novel NPS. This proactive monitoring approach not only guides further investigations, but also strengthens preparedness for when these substances eventually appear in drug-checking services, police seizures, or toxicological reports.
Contextual bias in forensic voice comparison: The impact of suggestion intensity and direction on conclusion distortion (first empirical evidence from China).
Zhang LS, Zhao YB, Xu JF … +2 more , Kai G, Wang XB
Forensic Sci Int · 2026 Aug · PMID 41932060 · Publisher ↗
Forensic voice comparison involves auditory-perceptual judgment, making its conclusions susceptible to contextual bias. However, empirical research on the effects of such bias in this field within the Chinese context rem...
Forensic voice comparison involves auditory-perceptual judgment, making its conclusions susceptible to contextual bias. However, empirical research on the effects of such bias in this field within the Chinese context remains relatively scarce. This study provides the first empirical evidence from China examining how the intensity and direction of contextual bias distort conclusions in forensic voice comparison. Two controlled experiments employed a between-subjects design. In Experiment 1 (different-speaker pair, strong suggestion), 90 trained postgraduate participants were exposed to strong contextual suggestions implying either identification or non-identification. In Experiment 2 (same-speaker pair, weak suggestion), the same participants were re-randomized and exposed to weak suggestions of similar directional intent. All conclusions were reported using China's Five-Point Conclusion Scale (GA/T 1433-2017). Key findings reveal: (1) Contextual suggestions significantly skewed conclusions toward the implied direction, with strong suggestions producing a larger shift in conclusion scores (mean difference = 1.83, indicating the average change in participants' ratings between biased and unbiased conditions)than weak suggestions (mean difference: 0.63); (2) When bias conflicted with ground truth, strong suggestions led to a high error rate (83.3%), significantly higher than under weak suggestions (46.7%). The results demonstrate a clear gradient effect where stronger suggestions cause more pronounced conclusion distortion. These findings underscore the critical necessity of procedural safeguards (e.g., contextual information shielding) to mitigate bias and enhance the reliability of forensic voice comparison in judicial practice.
Novel Y-STRs with elevated mutation rates further improve male relative differentiation.
Zandstra D, Ralf A, van der Gaag KJ … +3 more , Ghanbari M, Sijen T, Kayser M
Forensic Sci Int Genet · 2026 Jun · PMID 41916106 · Publisher ↗
Y-chromosomal short tandem repeats (Y-STRs) with elevated mutation rates are valuable markers for distinguishing male suspects from their paternal male relatives - something that is typically not possible with standard Y...
Y-chromosomal short tandem repeats (Y-STRs) with elevated mutation rates are valuable markers for distinguishing male suspects from their paternal male relatives - something that is typically not possible with standard Y-STRs. However, while the 26 rapidly mutating Y-STRs (RM Y-STRs) we identified in our two previous screens substantially improve male relative differentiation compared to standard Y-STRs, many close relatives cannot be separated with these markers. Aiming to further enhance the discrimination power of male relatives, particularly closely related ones, we performed a new chromosome-wide search for Y-STRs with elevated mutation rates by integrating in-silico marker discovery with experimental marker verification. Relative to previous screens, three major advancements were applied: (1) use of the Y-chromosome sequence from the telomere-to-telomere reference genome and other genomes, (2) consideration of all repeat motifs from homopolymers to hexanucleotides, and (3) use of targeted massively parallel sequencing to genotype male relatives for marker verification. To ensure robust allele calling and mutation detection for dinucleotide repeats prone to PCR slippage, we developed and applied a novel curve-fitting approach that accounts for all observed signals: true alleles and stutter products. Overall, we identified 14 novel Y-STRs with previously unreported elevated mutation rates, most of which were dinucleotide repeats. Relative to the 30-marker set of the RMplex tool, this novel set increased the empirical differentiation rates of close relatives separated by 1-4 meioses by 20.0%, 15.6%, 9.9% and 4.1%, respectively. The combined set of 44 novel and previous markers empirically differentiated 46.9%, 80.4%, 86.4%, and 84.8% of close relatives separated by 1-4 meioses and 96.4-100% of distant relatives separated by 5-15 meioses. The differentiation capacities of this 44-marker set, estimated from locus-specific mutation rates, were 50.2%, 75.2%, 87.6%, and 93.8% for these close relatives and 96.9-100% for the distant ones. Provided the development and successful forensic validation of a targeted genotyping tool, we anticipate that this expanded set of 44 Y-STRs with elevated mutation rates will enhance the ability to distinguish a male suspect from his paternal male relatives. This will benefit solving criminal cases where an autosomal STR profile of the male perpetrator cannot be generated and where standard Y-STR profiling yields a haplotype match between the suspect and the trace as well as haplotype sharing between the suspect and his male relative(s).
An innovative genetic genealogy approach to the identification of three victims of World War I and World War II: The new Forenseq Kintelligence kit.
Zvenigorosky V, Gonzalez A, Fausser JL … +5 more , Veith G, Frémont B, Delabarde T, Ludes B, Keyser C
Forensic Sci Int Genet · 2026 Jun · PMID 41916105 · Publisher ↗
The identification of unknown human remains is still dependent on the availability of comparison samples from potential leads and (in routine practice) the use of STR profiling. In cold cases, or cases where remains have...
The identification of unknown human remains is still dependent on the availability of comparison samples from potential leads and (in routine practice) the use of STR profiling. In cold cases, or cases where remains have been recovered long after death, establishing a list of leads is an added difficulty. The absence of external clues to the identity of the individual, or the initial failure of identification, imply that leads must be established using either the genetic data itself, or contextual clues. Moreover, kinship confirmation further than the 1st degree is unreliable using autosomal STR alone. The Forenseq Kintelligence kit by Qiagen (formerly Verogen) is presented as a solution to both problems, since it allows kinship comparisons of SNP profiles recovered from unknown degraded remains to the GEDmatch database (GEDmatch PRO tools), which can be used for forensic genetic genealogy. We applied the Kintelligence kit to two skeletonised bodies recovered from the battlefield of Verdun and a body that was buried alongside members of the French Résistance, executed by the Nazis in 1944. In all three cases, we obtained usable genotyping data, and the comparison with the GEDmatch database produced between 3 and 2000 + matches with our samples, all around 200 cM in genetic distance. Our efforts to use these matches as leads to identify these remains were limited by the lack of information provided by GEDmatch PRO, with aliases and email addresses (many obsolete) constituting the bulk of data. The few genealogies linked to matches being mostly anonymous for individuals born after 1920, we originally relied on contacting GEDmatch participants and parsing their responses, which we later learned was not an appropriate approach. After consulting with experienced genetic genealogists, we corrected our approach and are able to present the results and propose improvements to both the GEDmatch database and the process of genealogical investigation itself.
Hierarchical and sex-dependent genetic architecture of familial fingerprint similarity revealed by a multi-dimensional kinship cohort analysis.
Wang X, Yang X, Han Z … +5 more , Zhang S, Wang CC, Li C, Zhang H, Li J
Forensic Sci Int Genet · 2026 Jun · PMID 41916104 · Publisher ↗
Human fingerprints, characterized by high heritability and developmental stability, serve as a paradigm for complex polygenic traits. While uniquely individual, measurable similarity exists among biological relatives, su...
Human fingerprints, characterized by high heritability and developmental stability, serve as a paradigm for complex polygenic traits. While uniquely individual, measurable similarity exists among biological relatives, suggesting potential for kinship inference. Yet, a comprehensive quantitative framework detailing how this similarity varies across kinship degrees, digits, and pattern types remains lacking. Here, we construct a kinship fingerprint dataset (153 monozygotic [MZ], 101 dizygotic [DZ] twin pairs, and 110 parent-child [PC] pairs) and systematically quantify similarity using both categorical pattern types and quantitative ridge counts across all ten digits. Our analyses reveal a consistent, monotonic decline in fingerprint similarity with increasing genetic distance, confirming that dermatoglyphic traits encode structured genetic information. Ridge counts, with higher genetic determinant, provide greater sensitivity for distinguishing finer kinships (e.g., MZ vs. DZ twins) at the group level compared to pattern types, underscoring the utility of quantitative traits. Furthermore, we uncover a hierarchical and sex-dependent genetic architecture, in which genetic effects are stronger and more detectable in females, and digit-level analyses demonstrate a shared genetic background across the hand with systematic, position-dependent modulation rather than complete digit independence. We also dissected the contributions of genetic constraint and developmental stochasticity to phenotypic formation, quantifying the contribution of developmental noise at approximately 20% for the first time and demonstrating that this randomness itself is subject to genetic modulation. Collectively, this study complements descriptive forensics by establishing a quantitative, hierarchical and sex-dependent genetic framework for interpreting familial fingerprint similarity, offering new insights into phenotypic quantification, the potential for forensic kinship inference screening, and models of developmental genetics.
Multicenter analysis of dog bite injuries: Clinical patterns, demographics, and health outcomes for public safety enhancement.
Aulino G, Cittadini F, Castaldo E … +8 more , Petrucci M, Della Polla D, Franceschi F, Boccia S, Carbone L, Ricciuto GM, Mirante E, Covino M
Forensic Sci Int · 2026 Jul · PMID 41916027 · Publisher ↗
INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to evaluate the factors influencing the severity of dog bite injuries, and subsequently, to determine whether there are differences depending on whether the dogs are owned or stray of patie...
INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to evaluate the factors influencing the severity of dog bite injuries, and subsequently, to determine whether there are differences depending on whether the dogs are owned or stray of patients admitted to the Emergency Departments (ED) of four roman hospitals due to dog-bites. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data on clinical characteristics, accident timing, dog ownership status, type of injury and district involved were collected for ED patients involved in dog-bites from January 2014 to December 2023. Subsequently, dog-bite injury severity was assessed through Mcheick Classification. Descriptive, univariate, and logistic regression analyses were performed for the selected items. RESULTS: Over the study period, 4336 patients were admitted to the ED following dog-bites injuries. Multivariate analysis, based on dog-bite injury severity, revealed that the involved body region (OR 1.45, 95% CI: 1.03-2.04) and the risk of hospitalization (OR 6.04, 95% CI: 3.85-9.46) are predictive factors of greater injury severity, and that elderly individuals have a higher risk of experiencing more severe injuries (OR 1.90, 95% CI: 1.46-2.47). Moreover, multivariate analysis, based on dog ownership status, showed a lower probability of being bitten by a stray dog compared to an owned dog for children, teenagers and elderly (OR: 0.42, 95% CI: 0.31-0.55; OR: 0.58, 95% CI: 0.42-0.80; OR: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.50-0.84, respectively). Regarding the district involved, bites to the head and neck region were less frequent in cases involving stray/unknown dogs (OR: 0.28, 95% CI: 0.24-0.34). CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed a rising trend in the number of cases until 2019, after which a decrease was observed. Injury severity increased with age, with children 35% less likely and those over 60 90% more likely to sustain severe injuries. Children, teenagers, and the elderly were less likely to be bitten by stray dogs, which were also less frequently associated with head and neck bites. These findings highlight the need for targeted prevention strategies, addressing both injury severity across age groups and the risks associated with owned versus stray dogs.
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