Forensic ancestry inference refers to the application of ancestry inference of population genetics in forensic practice, which aims to assist police investigation and judicial trial. With the rapid development and extensive use of genomics, DNA as a direct carrier of genetic information, has soon replaced various phenotypic markers and become the main research topics of forensic ancestry inference. This paper reviews different kinds of genetic markers used for forensic ancestry inference, the statistical analysis methods applied, and the prospects of the development in this field.
DNA ; Forensic Genetics ; Genetic Markers ; Genetics, Population/trends* ; Humans ; Molecular Biology/trends*

Molecular identification of human externally visible characteristic （EVC）, which is also called forensic DNA phenotyping （FDP）, can serve as a "molecular witness" when the routine investigations can not determine the identity of a criminal and the DNA database find no match after comparison. FDP could assist in investigation of cases by inferring the externally visible phenotypic characteristics from DNA obtained from the biological materials left at crime scenes, or unknown corpses. In the last few years, studies on the selection of EVC related molecular markers have been reported frequently and some of the EVCs could already be inferred with a certain accuracy, such as hair color and iris color. Further fundamental research on molecular genetics of human external phenotypic characteristics, as well as the continuous innovation on molecular biological technology would promote the rapid development of DNA molecular identification of human phenotypic characteristics.
DNA/genetics* ; Databases, Nucleic Acid ; Eye Color/genetics* ; Forensic Anthropology/trends* ; Forensic Genetics/trends* ; Hair Color/genetics* ; Humans ; Phenotype ; Physical Appearance, Body/genetics* ; Skin Pigmentation/genetics*

Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) refers to the single base sequence variation in specific location of the human genome. Phenotype informative SNP has gradually become one of the research hot spots in forensic science. In this paper, the forensic research situation and application prospect of phenotype informative SNP in the characteristics of hair, eye and skin color, height, and facial feature are reviewed.
Eye Color/genetics* ; Forensic Genetics/trends* ; Forensic Sciences ; Genome, Human ; Hair ; Humans ; Phenotype ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide/genetics*

Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) is a new molecular marker to detect genomic polymorphism. This new technology has advantages of high resolution, good stability, and reproducibility. Great achievements have been derived in recent years in AFLP related technologies with several AFLP expanded methodologies available. AFLP technology has been widely used in the fields of plant, animal, and microbes. It has become one of the hotspots in Forensic Botany. This review focuses on the recent advances of AFLP and its applications in forensic biology.
Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis/trends* ; Botany/methods* ; DNA, Plant/genetics* ; Forensic Genetics ; Plants/genetics*

With the development of new technologies, such as whole genome sequencing and big data, many countries have constructed large cohorts as strategic resources for precision medicine study. Related studies have significantly promoted research progress in many fields, such as medicine and biology, creating the genetic testing industry. In the forensic field, characterization technologies for features, such as biogeographic ancestry, genetic genealogy and physical appearance have emerged and developed rapidly. Compared with traditional forensic DNA technology, the new technology can search for characteristics and provide clues, quickly becoming an important means to solve difficult cases such as cold cases and accumulated cases. This paper briefly reviews the current status of the construction of large cohorts at home and abroad, and the research progress of forensic molecular phenotyping in the context of precision medicine in the context of precision medicine.
DNA/genetics* ; DNA Fingerprinting ; Forensic Genetics ; Forensic Medicine/trends* ; Genetic Markers ; Genetic Testing ; Humans ; Phenotype ; Precision Medicine

As an important part of epigenetic marker, DNA methylation involves in the gene regulation and attracts a wide spread attention in biological auxology, geratology and oncology fields. In forensic science, because of the relative stable, heritable, abundant, and age-related characteristics, DNA methylation is considered to be a useful complement to the classic genetic markers for age-prediction, tissue-identification, and monozygotic twins' discrimination. Various methods for DNA methylation detection have been validated based on methylation sensitive restriction endonuclease, bisulfite modification and methylation-CpG binding protein. In recent years, it is reported that the third generation sequencing method can be used to detect DNA methylation. This paper aims to make a review on the detection method of DNA methylation and its applications in forensic science.
CpG Islands ; DNA Methylation/genetics* ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Epigenomics ; Forensic Genetics/trends* ; Genetic Markers/genetics* ; Humans ; Sulfites ; Twins, Monozygotic/genetics*

Individual response to drugs, toxicants, environmental chemicals and allergens varies with genotype. Some respond well to these substances without significant consequences, while others may respond strongly with severe consequences and even death. Toxicogenetics and toxicogenomics as well as pharmacogenetics explain the genetic basis for the variations of individual response to toxicants by sequencing the human genome and large-scale identification of genome polymorphism. The new disciplines will provide a new route for forensic specialists to determine the cause of death.
Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System/genetics* ; Drug Hypersensitivity/genetics* ; Forensic Medicine ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease/genetics* ; Genome, Human ; Humans ; Pharmacogenetics/trends* ; Pharmacokinetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Toxicogenetics/trends*