Validation of MPS-screened RNA markers for specific body fluid identification
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Citation
Abstract
Forensic body fluid identification serves as a critical component in crime scene reconstruction and evidence interpretation, yet conventional methodologies—including enzyme activity assays and immunological techniques—remain constrained by inadequate specificity and environmental instability. Recent breakthroughs in molecular biology, particularly the advent of Massively Parallel Sequencing (MPS), have enabled cost-effective, high-resolution profiling of RNA expression across tissues, positioning RNA biomarkers as a transformative tool for precise fluid identification. Leveraging a whole transcriptome database encompassing five forensically relevant body fluids (menstrual blood, peripheral blood, saliva, semen, and vaginal secretions), this study implemented a dual-phase screening strategy combining bioinformatic prioritization with experimental validation through agarose gel electrophoresis and Sanger sequencing. From 33 candidate markers, eight exhibited unambiguous specificity under defined conditions: CA6 and PRH1 uniquely identified saliva, while RGS22, LRRIQ1, BOD1L2, and CRISP2 served as definitive semen markers, VCAN and RGS18 served as definitive blood markers. These findings not only expand the forensic toolkit with robust molecular signatures but also establish a foundation for integrating RNA-based biomarkers into multidimensional individual identification systems, advancing precision in legal medicine.
Description
2025