Journal of Forensic Medicine

法医学杂志 ›› 2020, Vol. 36 ›› Issue (3): 374-378.DOI: 10.12116/j.issn.1004-5619.2020.03.015

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Research Progress on MicroRNA in Forensic Medicine as Molecular Markers

YANG Dan1,2, LI Yang1, SUN Qi-fan1, LI Zhen-zhou3, LÜ Qing4, WU Bin1, HE Guang-long1   

  1. 1. Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Public Security, Beijing 100038, China; 2. Department of Forensic Medicine, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China; 3. Changshou Branch of Chongqing Public Security Bureau, Chongqing 401220, China; 4. Criminal Technology Branch of Heilongjiang Forestry Public Security Bureau, Harbin 150070, China
  • Online:2020-06-25 Published:2020-06-28

RichHTML

19

PDF (PC)

749

Abstract: MicroRNA （miRNA） belongs to a class of endogenous non-coding small RNA molecules with a length of 18-24 nucleotides. The expression of miRNA is highly conservative, has time sequence and is highly tissue-specific. MiRNA could not be easily degraded by ribonuclease, and is resistant to changes in environmental factors such as temperature and pH value. Moreover, miRNA can even be detected in corrupt tissue. As a result, miRNA has broad application prospects in many fields of forensic medicine such as source identification of body fluid and estimation of cause of death. This article briefly summarizes the application of miRNA in forensic practice, such as body fluid identification, determination of postmortem interval and cause of death analysis.

Key words: forensic genetics, microRNA, biomarker, review