From Hemogenetics to Forensic Genomics

Abstract

The chapter traces the milestones of the historical evolution of forensic genetics, citing the fundamental contributions that have allowed this specialist discipline to resolve judicial cases, through the analysis of human and non-human biological samples. The process of refinement of analytical methods has ecountered the following key moments: the discovery of autosomal SLP and STR polymorphisms of DNA, for the determination of individual genetic profiles; the standardization of analytical processes and guidelines for interpretation by the DNA Commission of the International Society for Forensic Genetics (ISFG); the discovery of mitochondrial DNA polymorphisms and of heterochromosomes; the construction of forensic data banks and the identification of particular SNPs for the determination of the individual phenotypic characteristics. Forensic genetics currently aspires to establish itself as a forensic genomics thanks to the introduction of next generation sequencing techniques, whose massively parallel sequencing represent the second generation and the successive step in the endless revolution in this field.