Problems of Forensic Sciences 2005 Vol. 64 (LXIV) 343-357
GENETIC PREDICTION OF PIGMENTARY TRAITS IN FORENSIC STUDIES
Wojciech BRANICKI1, Urszula BRUDNIK2, Anna WOJAS-PELC2
1Institute of Forensic Research, Krakow
2Faculty of Dermatology, Collegium Medicum, Jagiellonian University, Krakow
Streszczenie
Examinations of highly variable STR sequences and complementary analysis of mtDNA markers that are very resistant to degradation processes are standard procedures used in contemporary forensic laboratories. Single nucleotide polymorphisms are considered as very attractive additional markers utilised especially in the analysis of heavily degraded specimens. Moreover, progress that has recently been made in studies on correlations between genetics and some phenotypic features has opened up new opportunities for application of SNP markers in forensic studies. Determination of physical features on the basis of DNA analysis would seem to be useful in criminal investigations where a reliable description of the offender(s) is not available, as well as in forensic anthropological studies. Genetic determination of pigmentary status, one of the most variable human traits, seems to be of special interest for these purposes. The present article discusses these new opportunities emerging in forensic genetics, with a focus on associations between genetics and pigmentation.
Słowa kluczowe
Physical traits; Pigmentation genes; Single nucleotide polymorphisms; Genetic prediction.