Lineage Markers and Their Applications in Forensic DNA Analysis

Lineage markers can be inherited uniparentally, such as the mitochondrial genome—from mother to child, the Y-chromosome—from father to son, or the X-chromosome when passed from mother to son, or diparentally, such as the X-chromosomes passed from mother and father to daughter. While these markers are not individualizing, they are able to determine kinship, identify missing persons through familial testing, and separate male and female DNA samples in instances of sexual assault. For this reason, these unique markers have become a standard assessment in many forensic cases. Here, we discuss the most common lineage markers, their characteristics, and their forensic value and limitations.

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