EurekAlert November 19, 2020
Environmental samples serve as ideal forms of contact trace evidence as detection at a scene can establish a link between a suspect, location, and victim. Translation of these tools to forensic science remains in its infancy, due in part to the merging of traditional forensic ecology practices with unfamiliar DNA technologies and complex datasets, biomass environmental signals carried by people and objects. However, the sensitivity, and reducing cost, of MPS is now unlocking the power of both high and low biomass environmental DNA (eDNA) samples as useful sources of genetic information in forensic science. Researchers in Australia discusses the potential of eDNA to forensic science by reviewing the most explored applications that are leading the integration of this technology into the field, introduce novel areas of forensic ecology, discuss the current limitations and validation recommendations to achieve translation of eDNA into casework…read more. TECHNICAL ARTICLE