An ELOVL2-Based Epigenetic Clock for Forensic Age Prediction: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Forensic Science
• Epigenetics
• Genomics

Background:

• Chronological age prediction using methylation biomarkers is a key area in forensic science.
• Existing age-prediction models are often difficult for forensic caseworkers to apply.
• Single-locus models offer a potentially simpler strategy for forensic age estimation.

Approach:

• A systematic review of pyrosequencing datasets was conducted to analyze ELOVL2 promoter methylation.
• Nine datasets comprising 2298 participants were selected for model formulation.
• Gradient boosting regressor was employed to develop the age prediction model.

Key Points:

• A strong correlation between ELOVL2 methylation levels and chronological age was observed across all models.
• The gradient boosting regressor model achieved the highest accuracy, with an approximate prediction error of 5.5 years.
• ELOVL2 methylation is highly correlated with age, supporting its use in epigenetic age prediction.

Conclusions:

• The study supports the utility of ELOVL2 as a single-locus marker for epigenetic age prediction.
• While promising, incorporating additional non-redundant markers is crucial for robust forensic applications.
• Further development is needed to create reliable molecular models for forensic casework.