RNA-Approached technology applications in forensic genetics

Abstract

Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a nucleic acid which is structurally different from DNA. DNA is the most used and approved nucleic acid in routine applications in forensic caseworks. In this article, giving an information about which RNA types are chosen for which forensic applications is aimed. RNA technologies are developing in the concept of forensic genetics and they can be adapted into routine case works in the case of well conditions are supplied. Both coding and non-coding RNAs are investigated for forensic purposes and most examined ones are messenger RNAs, and microRNAs. There are some researches on circular RNAs and piwi-interacting RNAs but they are in low number when compared with first two RNA types. Forensic studies based on RNA technologies are body fluid identification, post mortem interval determination, determination of stain age, estimation of an individual’s age and sex, identification of organ tissues, wound age estimation, and determination of drug abuse. Lastly, different RNA based technologies can be used in these studies and some of them are micro-array, Nano-String technology, real time PCR, end point PCR, high resolution melt (HRM) analysis and next generation sequencing (NGS) technology.