Forensic proteomics

Area of Science:

• Forensic proteomics
• Biomolecular analysis
• Mass spectrometry

Background:

• Proteins are key components of biological evidence, reflecting cellular activity and enabling identification of tissues and genetic variations.
• Traditional protein analysis in forensics faced limitations, hindering comprehensive insights from biological samples.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the applications and potential of forensic proteomics.
• To examine the evolution of protein analysis in forensic science.
• To detail how mass spectrometry innovations overcome historical limitations.

Main Methods:

• Review of forensic proteomics applications, including body fluid/tissue identification and proteomic genotyping.
• Analysis of emerging areas: fingermark analysis, species identification, peptide toxicology, sex estimation, and post-mortem interval estimation.
• Evaluation of the development, validation, and implementation stages of each application.

Main Results:

• Proteomic mass spectrometry has significantly advanced forensic protein analysis.
• Established applications include body fluid identification and proteomic genotyping.
• Developing applications show promise for enhanced forensic investigations.

Conclusions:

• Forensic proteomics offers expanded capabilities for analyzing biological evidence.
• Innovations in mass spectrometry are driving the field forward.
• The review provides insights into the current and future impact of proteomics in forensic science.