MicroRNA as Biomarkers in Forensic Applications

Authors

  • Dr. Francesca Ventresca Italian Molecular Biologist

Keywords:

MicroRNA, Biomarkers, Forensic Science, Nucleotides, Crime Scene

Abstract

MicroRNA (miRNA) analysis has been the focus of many researcher's attention in the biomedical field since its discovery in 1993; however, the forensic application of miRNA analysis has only been suggested within the last 10 years and has been gaining considerable traction recently. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small, endogenous, non-protein-coding RNA molecules of approximately 22 nucleotides in length, and exist extensively in a variety of eukaryotic cells.

MiRNAs regulate gene expression and play fundamental roles in multiple biological processes, including cell differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis as well as aging and disease processes. MiRNAs have been shown to have high tissue specificity, resistance to degradation as a result of their small size and storage in the exosomes. They have no splicing variants unlike mRNA and their expression also follows a cell-specific pattern. Thus, they have great advantages for identifying forensically relevant body fluids.

Actually, recent studies have reported that several microRNAs are highly expressed in forensically relevant body fluids and can roughly distinguish semen, blood, saliva, and vaginal secretion. Body fluid identification is crucial in forensic casework for the reconstruction of the criminal activity. It may indicate how the sample was left at the crime scene.

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Author Biography

Dr. Francesca Ventresca, Italian Molecular Biologist

Dr Francesca Ventresca is an Italian molecular biologist graduated with honors and enrolled in the National Order of Biologists. Member of the UNIBIOFOR (Association Union of Italian Forensic Biologists). She is also a forensic genetist with several years of experience in the forensic genetics lab of the Institute of Legal Medicine of Ancona Torrette (AN). Now She works at the Bio Forensics Research Center in Angri (SA) as a research collaborator.

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Published

2020-08-01

How to Cite

Ventresca, D. F. (2020). MicroRNA as Biomarkers in Forensic Applications. Nyayik Vigyan Articles of Forensic Research and Criminal Investigation, 1(2). Retrieved from https://articles.nyayikvigyan.com/nva/article/view/18

Issue

Vol. 1 No. 2 (2020): Forensic Science Application 2020

Section

Forensic Science Application

License

Copyright (c) 2020 Dr. Francesca Ventresca

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