Forensic Age Estimation through a DNA Methylation-Based Age Prediction Model in the Italian Population: A Pilot Study
DNA methylation is one of the epigenetic marks which has been studied intensively in recent years for age predicting purposes in the forensic area. In order to integrate age prediction into routine forensic workflow, the purpose of this study was to standardize and optimize a DNA methylation-based p...
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MDPI AG
2023-03-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/6/5381 |
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| author | Martina Onofri Arianna Delicati Beatrice Marcante Luigi Carlini Federica Alessandrini Pamela Tozzo Eugenia Carnevali |
| author_facet | Martina Onofri Arianna Delicati Beatrice Marcante Luigi Carlini Federica Alessandrini Pamela Tozzo Eugenia Carnevali |
| author_sort | Martina Onofri |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | DNA methylation is one of the epigenetic marks which has been studied intensively in recent years for age predicting purposes in the forensic area. In order to integrate age prediction into routine forensic workflow, the purpose of this study was to standardize and optimize a DNA methylation-based protocol tailored to the Italian context. A previously published protocol and age-predictive method was implemented for the analysis of 84 blood samples originating from Central Italy. The study here presented is based on the Single Base Extension method, considering five genes: ELOVL2, FHL2, KLF14, C1orf132, now identified as MIR29B2C, and TRIM59. The precise and specific steps consist of DNA extraction and quantification, bisulfite conversion, amplification of converted DNA, first purification, single base extension, second purification, capillary electrophoresis, and analysis of the results to train and test the tool. The prediction error obtained, expressed as mean absolute deviation, showed a value of 3.12 years in the training set and 3.01 years in the test set. Given that population-based differences in DNA methylation patterns have been previously reported in the literature, it would be useful to further improve the study implementing additional samples representative of the entire Italian population. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:26:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6a592c1bfa184b2aab746f1f613471bb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:26:06Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-6a592c1bfa184b2aab746f1f613471bb2023-11-17T11:33:05ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672023-03-01246538110.3390/ijms24065381Forensic Age Estimation through a DNA Methylation-Based Age Prediction Model in the Italian Population: A Pilot StudyMartina Onofri0Arianna Delicati1Beatrice Marcante2Luigi Carlini3Federica Alessandrini4Pamela Tozzo5Eugenia Carnevali6Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Santa. Maria Hospital, University of Perugia, 05100 Terni, ItalyDepartment of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, ItalyDepartment of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, ItalySection of Legal Medicine, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Santa. Maria Hospital, University of Perugia, 05100 Terni, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60121 Ancona, ItalyDepartment of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, ItalySection of Legal Medicine, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Santa. Maria Hospital, University of Perugia, 05100 Terni, ItalyDNA methylation is one of the epigenetic marks which has been studied intensively in recent years for age predicting purposes in the forensic area. In order to integrate age prediction into routine forensic workflow, the purpose of this study was to standardize and optimize a DNA methylation-based protocol tailored to the Italian context. A previously published protocol and age-predictive method was implemented for the analysis of 84 blood samples originating from Central Italy. The study here presented is based on the Single Base Extension method, considering five genes: ELOVL2, FHL2, KLF14, C1orf132, now identified as MIR29B2C, and TRIM59. The precise and specific steps consist of DNA extraction and quantification, bisulfite conversion, amplification of converted DNA, first purification, single base extension, second purification, capillary electrophoresis, and analysis of the results to train and test the tool. The prediction error obtained, expressed as mean absolute deviation, showed a value of 3.12 years in the training set and 3.01 years in the test set. Given that population-based differences in DNA methylation patterns have been previously reported in the literature, it would be useful to further improve the study implementing additional samples representative of the entire Italian population.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/6/5381DNA methylationSNaPshotage estimationforensic geneticsepigenetics |
| spellingShingle | Martina Onofri Arianna Delicati Beatrice Marcante Luigi Carlini Federica Alessandrini Pamela Tozzo Eugenia Carnevali Forensic Age Estimation through a DNA Methylation-Based Age Prediction Model in the Italian Population: A Pilot Study International Journal of Molecular Sciences DNA methylation SNaPshot age estimation forensic genetics epigenetics |
| title | Forensic Age Estimation through a DNA Methylation-Based Age Prediction Model in the Italian Population: A Pilot Study |
| title_full | Forensic Age Estimation through a DNA Methylation-Based Age Prediction Model in the Italian Population: A Pilot Study |
| title_fullStr | Forensic Age Estimation through a DNA Methylation-Based Age Prediction Model in the Italian Population: A Pilot Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Forensic Age Estimation through a DNA Methylation-Based Age Prediction Model in the Italian Population: A Pilot Study |
| title_short | Forensic Age Estimation through a DNA Methylation-Based Age Prediction Model in the Italian Population: A Pilot Study |
| title_sort | forensic age estimation through a dna methylation based age prediction model in the italian population a pilot study |
| topic | DNA methylation SNaPshot age estimation forensic genetics epigenetics |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/6/5381 |
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