Epigenetic clock helps forensic investigators estimate age

DNA analysis plays an increasingly important role in forensic science. Beyond identifying individuals, scientists are seeking ways to extract more information from biological traces. Age estimation is one such valuable insight. The Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, part of the University of Amsterdam, has developed a novel method that uses DNA methylation patterns not only from autosomal chromosomes but also from the X chromosome to estimate the age of a DNA donor.

Breakthrough in forensic epigenetics

DNA methylation is an epigenetic marker that changes over a person’s lifetime. The SILS researchers have mapped specific methylation patterns and linked them to age, with a high degree of accuracy. This makes the method suitable for real-world forensic scenarios where only limited biological material may be available.

Knowledge with societal value

This development illustrates how fundamental life sciences research can directly contribute to real-world applications. In addition to strengthening the reliability of forensic investigations, it opens the door to new uses in law enforcement, crime solving, and identity verification.

Read the original article on uva.nl