Information Gleaned when Integrating Bite Mark Microbiome Analysis with DNA Profiling.
Information Gleaned when Integrating Bite Mark Microbiome Analysis with DNA Profiling.
| Benefit | Information Gained | Contribution to Forensic Investigations |
|---|---|---|
| Enhanced identification accuracy | Unique microbial signature for each individual8,45
Includes information on the microorganisms within the human body, encompassing both the internal and external environment46 |
Enhanced accuracy in validating perpetrator identity and linking individuals to crime scenes |
| Complementary evidence | Microbial DNA can be detected even when human DNA is limited, degraded, or contaminated47 | Enables access to a broader range of evidence samples and reduces the number of false positive identifications |
| Extension of post-bite mark interval for analysis | Microbial DNA remains intact after significant time periods,47 compared with traditional DNA that degrades over time | Useful for cold case investigations |
| Holistic crime scene reconstruction | Provides information about the environment, diet, possible social interactions, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, health conditions, and more45
Microbial communities are influenced by social interactions and a person’s daily routines46 |
Contributes to suspect profiling and the crime scene context
Detecting potential connections between suspects or witnesses |
| Human–microbe interaction dynamics | Provides information on the intricate relationship between human hosts and the microorganisms residing within
Environmental microorganisms can be transferred during a biting incident |
Contributes to investigation of factors influencing a biting incident and contributes to the reconstruction of surrounding events45 |
| Geographical/temporal clues | Microbiome data reflect known specific microbial differences in geography and the environment45,48
Microbial communities demonstrate temporal stability over shorter time frames40 and rapidly adapt in response to environmental fluctuations45 |
Geographical region can be deduced from microbiome data based on known specific microbial differences in geography and environment45,48 and give insights into geographic locations visited by a suspect |