title: Recent advances in forensic genetics.
abstract: Like many applications of molecular diagnostics, the field of forensic biology is undergoing a phase of expansion and diversification. The growth of forensic DNA databases and adoption of sophisticated analytical methods have catalyzed this increasing role. The range of molecular markers exploited in the fight against crime is beginning to increase too, and genes implying personal or physical characteristics are emerging in the research literature. However, the operational context of forensic biology is unlike many other fields of science. Harmonizing technological breakthroughs with the requirements of law enforcement agencies and the complexities of the legal system is an added challenge and one which evokes ongoing debate. This review examines the current status of this dynamic and important application of modern genetics.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Forensic Science, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Technology, Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW, 2001, Australia. Simon.Walsh@uts.edu.au
authors.forename: Simon J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Walsh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030561:Databases, Nucleic Acid; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers