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The application of DNA technology in legal forensic examinations was a pivotal point in the history of the legal justice system. It has helped law enforcement agencies worldwide solve cases such as rape, murder, terrorism and mass disasters. Commonly known as DNA fingerprinting or DNA profiling, this technology is used to identify individuals and establish relationships by analysing certain segments of DNA and their inheritance patterns. India was an early adopter of forensic DNA testing, which has now become an integral part of the judicial process across the country. Despite the continued success of DNA technology, laboratories across India are struggling to reach the global standards of DNA examination and have an overwhelming backlog of cases. This article reviews the development of human identification forensic DNA technologies and their adoption in India. Future prospects and challenges for the technology have also been elaborated, including a discussion on the recently introduced legal reforms assimilating modern forensic examination in the judicial process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In October 2022, the Centre for Ethics of Yenepoya University hosted a national workshop entitled: "Respect for human dignity of the unidentified dead from mass disasters and other violence: strategies for the ethical management of biological samples and personal data". The aim was to explore and share experience and ethical considerations regarding the management and identification of human remains in the event of disasters, with the purpose to arrive at a general consensus about what constitutes the ethical foundation of the management of unidentified human remains in forensic practice and, in particular, contextualizing this in India. The main ethical consideration that emerged was tracing the missing and identifying the dead are crucial to maintaining or restoring basic human rights and responsible relief activities. Identification is not only an organizational and scientific achievement but, regardless of circumstances, also necessarily and always an activity with significant political, epistemic, and philosophical relevance and consequence. In India, it could be important to consider new legal provisions for the management of human samples so that this would provide a starting point for the treatment of human remains managed for forensic purposes with uniformity in the country. Another important step in which governments should take part regards the involvement and education of the general public to develop their interest in this important goal. In the field of forensic anthropology, artificial intelligence can support, through the use of algorithms, the decision-making process that leads to the identification of the victim or its remains. Furthermore, they can be used to extract new knowledge from huge databases and shorten identification through computer automation of data binding activities. Applying artificial intelligence tools in forensic sciences to collect new information from massive datasets to enhance knowledge, and reduce human subjectivity and errors, provides a greater scientific basis that could improve the strength of the evidence and support the admissibility of expert evidence. In light of the general lack of national/international guidance about ethical oversight for identification and care of human remains, the fact that regulations are frequently not adequate to govern ethical aspects, we hope that an internationally recognized body should develop such guidance in collaboration with relevant organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Age estimation plays a crucial role in human identification. Amongst numerous age markers located throughout the skeletal framework, the auricular surface of the ilium presents as a resilient structure, with different methods for auricular age estimation currently in practice. Amongst these methods, the Osborne method is believed to permit accurate age estimation through its use of robust age categories and discrete phase descriptors. The present study aimed to assess the applicability of the Osborne method in an Indian population through a computed tomographic (CT) examination of the auricular surface, an aspect presently unreported. In order to do so, CT scans of 380 individuals were collected and evaluated using the Osborne method. A CT-based examination indicated that surface texture described by Osborne is difficult to appreciate through 3D CT images. Indistinct definitions associated with certain features, and the mosaic display of features within each phase further prevents applying the method effectively. Overall accuracy percentages of 99.47% and 98.90% were obtained using the method in males and females, respectively, with corresponding inaccuracy values of 10.10 years and 9.04 years. Significantly reduced accuracy percentages were obtained with alternate, more robust age brackets presented within the original study, demonstrating the limited reliability associated with the method. Inaccuracy and bias values computed for each decade indicate the relative utility of the method in aging 40-59-year-old individuals. Low accuracy percentages, high error rates and different methodological hindrances encountered within the present study illustrate the limited applicability of the Osborne method in aging an Indian population., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Background: Forensic Medicine is a growing medical field with many subareas. General public usually associate the subject with the dead and autopsies alone. Forensic Anthropology is the sub field in physical anthropology, especially for solving criminal cases by applying skeletal analysis. The present study was done to study, compare, analyze the sternal measurements among both sexes and evaluate the reliability of different parameters of the adult sternum to determine the sex of an individual. Materials and Methods: Present study was a prospective study done at Department of Forensic Medicine at Kasturba Medical College, Manipal during the period of 2015-2018 on 92 dead individuals belonging to the South India, whose age was more than 18 years. The study population comprised of 47 males and 45 females and statistical analysis was done. The following measurements were obtained, M1-Length of manubrium; M2-Length of mesosternum; M1+M2-Combined lengths of manubrium and mesosternum; MCI-Manubrio corpus index; W4-Width of the sternum at the level of the fourth rib. Results and Conclusion: All the parameters were observed to be statistically highly significant with a p<0.001. This study reinforces that sexing of human sternum is possible with reasonable accuracy with combinations of new parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Studies have been done in diversified population, demonstrating the uniqueness of frontal sinus; data related to the Indian population are less. Thus, the present study was aimed to determine the frontal sinus measurement and to assess its forensic application in the Indian population. Materials and Methods: A total of 400 individuals with Indian origin (21–30 years) were included in the study. The digitized posteroanterior skull radiographs were obtained and was transferred to Adobe® CS4 extended to measure the dimensions of frontal sinus and orbit for 12 parameters. Statistical Analysis: A descriptive statistical analysis was performed. Results: The descriptive statistics showed the presence of bilateral frontal sinus in 87.7% and bilateral absence in 8.0% of the individuals and the absence of left and right frontal sinus in 3.3% and 1%, respectively. Maximum population showed high asymmetry index (64.7%); the right side frontal sinus (height, 59.3% and width, 40.8%) was superior to the left side in both males and females. The partial septa among the Indian population were absent for maximum population (55.2%), and supraorbital cells of the frontal sinuses were present on both sides among the Indian population. Conclusion: The observation of the present study suggests that the frontal sinus is highly asymmetrical and unique to the individual and hence can be effectively used in personal identification method in forensic anthropology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Calce method is proposed as a tool for age estimation from the acetabulum. • The present study tests the applicability of Calce method in an Indian population. • Morphological features defined by Calce can be easily visualized on CT scans. • Calce method yielded lower accuracy in those aged 40 years and above for the study population. • Lack of applicability of Calce method can be attributed to the broad age ranges it uses. Age estimation is one of the prerequisites of human identification. Age-progressive changes in the pelvis offer useful evidence for forensic age estimation across all age groups. The acetabulum presents as a durable and taphonomic degradation resistant age marker, and, can be employed for analysing age-progressive changes described by Calce. The present study aimed at determining the applicability of the Calce method for age estimation in an Indian population based on a computed tomographic examination of the acetabulum. Additionally, different morphological features defined by Calce were evaluated to identify the feature which contributes most towards the process of age estimation. CT images obtained from clinically undertaken examinations of individuals aged 17 years and above were scrutinized according to the features defined within the Calce method. No statistically significant bilateral or sex differences were observed. An overall accuracy of 76.66% was observed on applying the Calce method to an Indian population, with lower accuracy percentages for individuals aged 40 years and above. The associated overall inaccuracy and bias were found to be 9.45 and 8.88 years, respectively. Within the various features, acetabular groove was found to contribute most towards the overall accuracy, and apex growth the least. Considering this weighted proportion, population specific models should be derived to render greater applicability to the method for age estimation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of this study was to analyze the morphological study of palatal rugae pattern in a central Indian population and to determine sex differentiation. Objectives: To investigate the distinctive rugae patterns of the study population and determine the contribution of rugae patterns in gender identification. Material and Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted among a Central Indian population with a sample size of 500 participants. The study involved 250 males and 250 females who were randomly selected from the outpatient department of Oral Medicine Diagnosis and Radiology, Hitkarini Dental College and Hospital, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. After collection of impression, casts were made and analyzed to evaluate the palatal rugae pattern in a central Indian population by using Thomas and Kotze classification (1983) for number, shape, direction, and unification of palatal rugae pattern. The statistical analysis was carried out using Mann-Whitney test and Chi-square (χ²) tests for categorical variables. Result: Males showed more number of rugae than females [P = 0.00 (≤0.001)]. Males had more number of wavy rugae pattern whereas females showed more number of straight rugae patterns [P = 0.00 (≤0.001)]. Males showed more backwardly directed rugae whereas females showed more forwardly directed rugae [P = 0.00 (≤0.001)]. The unification did not show any significant difference. Conclusion: This study showed that there was a significant relationship between palatoscopy, human identification, and sex determination. Thus, palatoscopy can be considered as a cost effective, easy, unique, and stable method for human identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The determination of gender of unknown persons is of vital importance in forensic investigations, mainly when only the skull remains. Standardized radiographic techniques like cephalometry have advantages of being more precise and objective when compared to morphologic methods. The present study aimed at obtaining and comparing the reliability of cranio-mandibular parameters in Indian populations using digital lateral cephalograms and posterio- anterior radiographs. A total of 306 individuals comprising 150 males and 156 females, aged 18-30years were considered. Lateral cephalogram and postero-anterior digital radiographs were obtained. For lateral cephaograms measurements were made for mandibular body length, mandibular length and mandibular height. Mandibular bigonial and bizygomatic distance were determined on postero-anterior view with the help of Adobe Photoshop CS3 extended software. Logistic regression analysis was carried out to determine the accuracy of sex. Bizygomatic width and mandibular length contributed most for sexual dimorphism in the populations and obtained accuracy of 86.3% with bizygomatic and 82% with mandibular height. Thus cephalometric cranio-mandibular parameters can be used effectively to discriminate the sex using logistic regression analysis in Indian population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to identify and compare the rugae pattern between males and females of two different communities in the city of Davangere, Karnataka, India, which may be an additional method of identification in cases of crimes or communal riots. Elastomeric impressions of the maxillary arch of 100 selected children were made; casts were poured in Type IV stone. The method of identification of rugae pattern followed was that of Lysell and Thomas and Kotze, which includes the number, shape, direction, and unification of rugae. The study revealed no significant difference in the total number or length of rugae between the two communities and sexes. However, with regard to shape and unification, females showed a significantly higher diverging rugae type while males had a significant number of circular and converging type of rugae. Also, discrimination function analysis allowed a moderate differentiation of the population. Hence, the rugae pattern can be an additional method of differentiation in conjunction with the other methods such as visual, fingerprints, and dental characteristics in forensic sciences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Sternebral fusion can be used for age estimation. • The present study investigates these changes using CT in an Indian population. • The present study reports that sternebral fusion can estimate age of juveniles. • Sternebral fusion can ascertain if a person has attained the ages of 16 & 18 years. Forensic age estimation is a crucial aspect of the human identification process. Sternebral fusion is one of the skeletal indicators of age that has not been thoroughly researched for the purpose of age estimation. The present study was conducted with the aim of assessing the utility of each of the sternebral fusion in age estimation, and to ascertain if these fusion stages can help in identifying whether an individual has attained the medicolegally significant ages of 16 and 18 years. Thoracic CT images of 148 study participants (74 females, 74 males) were analysed to evaluate the fusion of sternebrae 1–2, sternebrae 2–3, and sternebrae 3–4. The fusion scores for these were found to be statistically significant (P < 0.001) with sternebrae 1–2 fusion showing the highest coefficient of correlation at R = 0.900. Linear regression models were generated using each of the sternebral fusions separately and together for estimation of age. The standard error of estimate for the regression models ranged from 1.51 to 2.86 years. Box and Whisker plots were constructed to see the fusion score wise age distribution of the study population, and it was observed that sternebral fusion has the ability to indicate whether an individual has attained the age of 16 and 18 years. Our study concludes that sternebral fusion can act as an accurate method of forensic age estimation of juveniles and young adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Allele frequencies for 15 tetranucleotides and 2 pentanucleotides repeat loci were determined in 317 unrelated, healthy individuals of Andhra Pradesh, India, belonging to three pre-dominant endogamous populations namely, Kappu Naidu, Kamma Chaudhary and Kapu Reddy. Adherence to the expectations of the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) was confirmed for all loci with few exceptions, which were not significant after applying Bonferroni''s correction. Statistical parameters of forensic interest; observed heterozygosity, probability of homozygosity, probability of extact test, power of discrimination, match probability, polymorphism information content, power of exclusion and mean paternity index were determined for all loci. The present study reveals that Penta E and D2S1338 are the most informative loci in all the studied populations. The combined power of discrimination was greater than 0.976, whereas the cumulative power of exclusion gave an expected value of 0.9999 for all the tested microsatellite loci. No difference was observed in the discriminatory power of 15 loci in studied populations on comparison with other populations of India. Population differentiation tests revealed significant differences between the studied and neighboring populations at several loci. Analyzed parameters indicate the utility and efficacy of the studied 17 STR systems as a powerful tool in forensic human identification, paternity testing and human population genetic studies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The evaluation of 15 STR loci Applied Biosystems Identifiler kit for sibship determination in Indian subjects is reported. Cumulative sibship indices (CSIs) calculated following standard methods in sibling pairs and non-sibling pairs, showed mean values comparable to other reports. Mean CSI value in sibling group was higher than in corresponding non-sibling group. Moderately high value of CSI in one of the non-sibling pairs and a very low likelihood ratio favoring non-relatedness in a known sibling pair did not allow binary decision about sibship status. To deal with this problem a grey zone approach has been applied to sibship test. It is concluded that the 15 loci STR kit can be reliably used for inferring sibship between pairs of individuals by defining a grey zone of a sibship test as an area of likelihood ratio values where the discriminatory performance is insufficient. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

POPULATION: Eighty male individuals from a nomadic tribal population belonging to Dravidian and Indo-Caucasian ethnicities from Deccan Plateau, Andhra Pradesh, India ( 1 ), were analyzed in the present study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyzes tribal populations of Andhra Pradesh, South India, Chenchu, Lambadi, Naikpod Gond and Yerukula for DNA polymorphisms at tetranucleotide and pentanucleotide short tandem repeat (STR) loci. Allele frequencies; Possible divergence from Hardy-Weinberg expectations; High degree of polymorphism for the selected loci; Validation and efficacy of STR loci in human identification.

Abstract: Allele frequencies and forensic parameters were estimated for 11 X chromosome STRs (DXS9898, DXS7424, DXS981, DXS8377, DXS9895, DXS10161, DXS10164, DXS6800, DXS6801, DXS9902 and DXS7423) from 749 samples of unrelated male individuals belonging to eleven populations of India. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: - Tattoos refer to various skin markings done by impregnating the skin's epidermis with varied pigments. In forensic science, tattoos are considered as secondary identification markers and can be used for positive identification. Indian society is a unique blend of traditional and modern religious and social practices. Thus, traditional tattoos are still prevalent among various tribal societies and scheduled castes spread throughout various parts of India. The tribal tattoos can be used to determine tribal affiliations, that can aid in the process of forensic identification. On the other hand, tattoos comprising Western-influenced designs as well as individuals co-opting traditional designs gradually are becoming more popular in urbanized India. Understanding and documenting the various tattoo patterns prevalent throughout the tribal population and the modern metropolitan cities can help create a reference base line data for future forensic identification., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd and Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine. All rights reserved.)