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INTERPOL Review of Forensic Biology and DNA, 2023-2025
1National Institute of Standards and Technology, Special Programs Office, 100 Bureau Drive, Mail Stop 6021, Gaithersburg, MD, USA.
Forensic Science International. Synergy
|June 22, 2026
Summary
This review summarizes forensic biology and DNA analysis trends from 2023-2025, covering advances in current practices and emerging technologies. It highlights key developments in DNA typing, interpretation, and new forensic applications.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Science
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- The INTERPOL International Forensic Science Managers Symposium series provides a platform for reviewing forensic science advancements.
- Previous INTERPOL DNA reviews have established a precedent for comprehensive literature assessments in forensic DNA analysis.
- The period 2023-2025 represents a dynamic phase for forensic biology and DNA technologies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a triennial review of scientific developments, methodologies, and trends in forensic biology and DNA analysis.
- To build upon previous INTERPOL DNA reviews by covering the 2023-2025 literature.
- To identify and categorize advances in current practices and emerging technologies in the field.
Main Methods:
- Conducted extensive online searches using databases like Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed to locate relevant scientific articles.
- Curated nearly 2000 references from over 300 journals into a Zotero reference manager database.
- Sorted and categorized publications into 15 topics and 116 sub-topics, utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) tools for reference summarization.
Main Results:
- The review encompasses 24 books/reports, 20 journal special issues, 292 conference articles, and 70 guidance documents.
- Publications were categorized into 10 topics on advances in current practices and 5 on emerging technologies.
- Key areas covered include rapid DNA analysis, forensic investigative genetic genealogy (FIGG), next-generation sequencing (NGS), and forensic DNA phenotyping (FDP).
Conclusions:
- The review provides a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art in forensic biology and DNA analysis for 2023-2025.
- It highlights significant progress in established techniques and the emergence of novel approaches and technologies.
- The findings offer valuable insights for forensic science managers and researchers, guiding future developments and applications.
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