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Current issues for mammalian species identification in forensic science: a review

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Abstract

Mammalian species identification is one of the important issues in forensic science. Determining the origins of non-human biological material found at crime scenes can increase the possibility of identifying the true culprit by narrowing down the range of suspects. Although many techniques based on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) have been developed, challenges remain to cost-effectively identify species from degraded samples containing a mixture of DNA from multiple species and to standardize procedures for mammalian species identification. This review evaluates the reliability and versatility of mtDNA-based techniques to reveal obstacles to the establishment of standard analytical methods, with a particular focus on DNA mixtures. When samples contain a mixture of DNA from multiple species, the interpretation of sequencing analysis results is difficult. Although DNA metabarcoding using next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies can overcome the DNA mixture problem, DNA metabarcoding is not suitable for the type of small-scale analysis routinely performed by local forensic laboratories, primarily because it is costly and time-consuming. By contrast, fluorescent multiplex PCR analysis enables cost-effective and simultaneous species identification from suboptimal samples, although the number of identifiable species is currently limited in comparison with sequencing techniques. The advantages and limitations of current techniques presented in this review indicate that multiplex PCR analysis will continue to be important for mammalian species identification in forensic casework analysis. Further developments in multiplex PCR analysis that enable the identification of an increased number of species will play a key step for standardization efforts among forensic laboratories.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu, 501-1193, Japan

    Chikahiro Mori

  2. Forensic Science Laboratory, Gifu Prefectural Police Headquarters, 2-1-1 Yabutaminami, Gifu, 500-8501, Japan

    Chikahiro Mori

  3. Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu, 501-1193, Japan

    Shuichi Matsumura

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  1. Chikahiro Mori
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  2. Shuichi Matsumura
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Chikahiro Mori: conceptualization and writing—original draft preparation. Shuichi Matsumura: supervision and writing—reviewing and editing.

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Correspondence to Chikahiro Mori.

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Mori, C., Matsumura, S. Current issues for mammalian species identification in forensic science: a review. Int J Legal Med 135, 3–12 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-020-02341-w

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