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A Blood-Bone-Tooth Model for Age Prediction in Forensic Contexts
Helena Correia Dias1,2,3, Licínio Manco1, Francisco Corte Real3,4
1Research Centre for Anthropology and Health (CIAS), Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal.
Biology
|December 24, 2021
Summary
Forensic age estimation is advanced by multi-tissue age prediction models (APMs) using DNA methylation (DNAm). Combining blood, bone, and tooth DNAm data, these models offer accurate age predictions for forensic applications.
Area of Science:
- Forensic science
- Epigenetics
- Genomics
Background:
- DNA methylation (DNAm) based age prediction models (APMs) have significantly advanced forensic age estimation.
- The potential of multi-tissue APMs for high-accuracy age prediction remains an area for exploration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate multi-tissue APMs, termed blood-bone-tooth-APM (BBT-APM), by integrating DNAm data from blood, bone, and tooth samples.
- To compare the efficacy of two distinct methodologies, Sanger sequencing and SNaPshot assay, in constructing these multi-tissue APMs.
Main Methods:
- Utilized bisulfite-converted DNA samples (n=185 for Sanger, n=168 for SNaPshot).
- Employed simple and multiple linear regression models to analyze the relationship between DNA methylation levels and chronological age.
- Developed BBT-APMs by identifying key CpG sites within specific genes.
Main Results:
- The Sanger sequencing-based BBT-APM, using seven CpGs (ELOVL2, EDARADD, PDE4C, FHL2, C1orf132), achieved a Mean Absolute Deviation (MAD) of 6.06 years and explained 87.8% of age variation.
- The SNaPshot assay-based BBT-APM, utilizing three CpGs (ELOVL2, KLF14, C1orf132), resulted in a MAD of 6.49 years and explained 84.7% of age variation.
- Both methodologies demonstrated the feasibility of multi-tissue DNAm for age prediction.
Conclusions:
- DNA methylation age prediction holds significant utility in forensic investigations.
- Multi-tissue APMs combining blood, bone, and tooth samples provide a robust approach for forensic age estimation.
- Further research into multi-tissue APMs can enhance the accuracy and applicability of epigenetic age prediction in forensic science.
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