DNA Phenotyping, mRNA Body-Fluid ID and DNA Methylation Age: Advanced (UGC-NET Unit III)

Advanced UGC-NET Forensic Science Unit III drill on forensic DNA phenotyping (FDP), mRNA body-fluid identification and DNA methylation age estimation. Coverage includes externally visible characteristic (EVC) prediction from SNP panels: the IrisPlex 6-SNP eye-colour panel (HERC2 rs12913832, OCA2, SLC24A4, TYR, SLC45A2), the HIrisPlex 24-SNP hair-and-eye panel adding MC1R variants, and the HIrisPlex-S 41-SNP skin-colour panel of Chaitanya et al. 2018. The bank tests biogeographic ancestry inference via AISNPs, Y-chromosome and mitochondrial haplogroup assignment, and the distinction between the Erasmus MC HIrisPlex-S online tool and the Parabon SNAPSHOT system used in US investigative leads. Body-fluid identification questions cover tissue-specific mRNA transcripts (STATH for saliva, PRM1 and PRM2 for semen, MMP7 and MYOZ1 for vaginal mucosa, HBB for blood, KRT9 for skin), the Juusola and Ballantyne multiplex RT-PCR panel of FSI 2003 and 2007, miRNA profiling, and the paradoxical stability of mRNA in dried stains. DNA methylation age questions cover the Horvath 2013 multi-tissue clock (353 CpGs, Genome Biology 14:R115), the Hannum 2013 blood clock (71 CpGs), and the forensic age-prediction multiplexes built around methylated ELOVL2, F5, KLF14 and miR-29b region with median absolute deviations of 3 to 5 years in blood. Indian context covers NFSU and ICMR research and the place of FDP in modern Investigative DNA work.