Bridging research and practice: A critical review of biological profile estimation methods applied to the Mexican...

Mexico faces an unprecedented humanitarian crisis of human identification that demands comprehensive efforts to increase the number of identified individuals. Reliable and accurate biological profile estimations are crucial in this process. This study presents a literature review of methods for estimating age, sex, and stature in the Mexican population, assessing their validity and suitability for specific contexts. Specifically, we extracted and critically analyzed information on sample characteristics, methodological details, reliability and accuracy metrics, and operational aspects. Out of 125 screened articles, 28 met the eligibility criteria: 12 focused on age, 12 on sex, 3 on stature estimation, and 1 on sex and age. General methods such as Demirjian's, Íşcan's, and Cameriere's have proven effective for age estimation across various Mexican populations, while discriminant function analysis has been successful in estimating sex using different anatomical elements, and regression analysis of long bones in estimating height. These findings highlight the variety of methods available for reliable biological profile estimation in Mexico. Based on these results, we offer recommendations for both academic research and forensic practice, aiming to guide forensic practitioners in selecting suitable methods and to stimulate discussions on establishing minimum acceptable methodological practices in the field.