Abstract: As the most popular and important inherited marker used in forensic identification, short tandem repeat (STR) always have partial DNA profiling or even no results when handling degraded or minute DNA sample. Through redesigning primers close to STR core repeats, MiniSTR can access shorter STR loci and increase success rate of DNA profiling in degraded or minute DNA sample. The review provides an update on the advancement of miniSTR research to give information in the practice of forensic science.

Key words: miniSTR, degraded DNA, forensic DNA profiling