Forensic DNA Profiling: Autosomal Short Tandem Repeat as a Prominent Marker in Crime Investigation

Abstract

Short tandem repeat (STR) typing continues to be the primary workhorse in forensic DNA profiling. Therefore, the present review discusses the prominent role of STR marker in criminal justice system. All over the world, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) profiling provides evidence that may be used to convict criminals, as an irrefutable proof of wrongful convictions, invaluable links to the actual perpetrators of crimes, and could also deter some offenders from committing more serious offences. Clearly, DNA profiling tools have also aided forensic scientists to re-evaluate old cases that were considered closed as a result of inadequate evidence. In carrying out this review, a comprehensive electronic literature search using PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar and Google Search were used, and all works meeting the subject matter were considered, including reviews, retrospective studies, observational studies and original articles. Case reports presented here, further demonstrates the crucial role of forensic DNA profiling in mitigating and providing compelling evidence for the resolution of crimes. For case report 1, there was a 100% match between the DNA recovered from the items found in the crime scene, and the suspect’s DNA sample collected via buccal swab following 15 STR loci examination. Case report 2 further highlights the indispensable contribution of DNA database in solving crime. Therefore, it has become very necessary for developing countries like Nigeria to develop a national DNA database and make policies and legislatures that will further expand and enable the practice of forensic genetics, particularly DNA profiling.

The Position of Forensic DNA Database in Criminal Investigation: Understanding the Utilization in Africa, Particularly Nigeria a Review

“…A forensic DNA database is a computer database containing records of DNA profiles primarily for the purpose of systematic comparison, and matching with a scene of crime sample or individual profile [31,32,11]. The expediency that genetic information has provided and continues to provide when concerned with identification purposes, is one that cannot be ignored [33].…”

“…In contemporary criminal justice systems, forensic DNA databases remain a veritable tool. According to Jakovski et al [2017], backof-the-envelope estimated that the marginal cost of preventing each crime, suggests that DNA databases are much more costeffective than other common law enforcement tools [31]. As well, forensic DNA databases agree to a "conservation of resources", either by expediting the resolution of crimes or by accelerating the judicial processes [37].…”

“…The unknown male DNA profile was then sent to the Macedonian National DNA database for comparison and possible hit. Eventually, the was a hit, and this time, a positive match with a prisoner convicted for drug trafficking, who was in that period released for the weekend [31].…”

“…As a prelude, Forensic DNA database is a computer database containing records of DNA profiles primarily for comparison to produce hits between stored DNA profile and either of suspects, victims, or crime scene sample [30,37,79]. The incredible power of DNA technology as an identification tool constitutes a significant investigative resource in contemporary criminal justice systems [79,31].…”

International Legal Regulation of Genetic Research and Implementation of International Legal Standards in this sphere into Russian Legislation

“…Так, в журнале Nature за последние два года были опубликованы некоторые статьи, указывающие на недостаточность регулирования области генетических исследований 3 . Ряд статей посвящены поиску баланса между публичными интересами и защитой частных интересов (Hodge, Samuel, 2018;Machado, Silva, 2019;Nwawuba, Mohammed, 2020;Samuel, Prainsack, 2018). Вместе с тем представленные источники отличаются, как правило, определенной ограниченностью, авторы, как правило, анализируют либо законодательство своей страны, либо международные акты.…”