The project entitled "Analiza epigenomu w celach dochodzeniowo-śledczych – zwiększenie możliwości identyfikacyjnych i wykrywczych badań DNA" [Epigenome analysis for investigative purposes – increasing the identification and detection capabilities of DNA tests] has been carried out in a multi-centre consortium. The group includes scientists from the Department of Anthropology of the Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection of the University of Lodz, researchers from the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin and an IT company. The company, on the basis of the provided research results, will create a computer program to predict human characteristics based on the data from biological traces secured at the scene of the events. The leader of the project is the Central Forensic Laboratory of the Police (CFLP), Warsaw.
DNA testing is becoming increasingly important in forensic science
DNA testing is considered the most effective tool for identifying individuals in certain cases, however it requires comparative sample of genetic material. In a situation where there is no hypothesis regarding the identity of the person from whom the biological material comes from, DNA phenotyping may turn out to be helpful, enabling prediction of their approximate description. This allows to direct the search and narrow down the circle of people you are looking for.
Currently, there are algorithms to predict gender, age, pigmentation characteristics (colour of eyes, hair or skin) and biogeographical origin. However, scientists are going a step further. They want to determine whether, based on genetic and epigenetic tests, they will be able to indicate the type of a preferred diet, the use of stimulants and the level of physical activity. All this information would be very useful in police work.
We hope that the project will significantly contribute to the development of forensic research and significantly expand detection capabilities. One of its goals is to improve the prediction of chronological age based on biological material from various tissues. The prediction of selected information about the lifestyle of people with unknown identity also constitutes an important element of the research. Our lifestyle affects the level of methylation in specific places of our genome. Such places are potential predictors of a lifestyle.
We are mainly analysing changes related to the increased physical activity, cigarettes smoking, different levels of alcohol consumption, types of a diet. We hope that thanks to this research biological trace analysis will provide important clues about a given person's lifestyle.
– says dr hab. Aneta Sitek, Associate Professor from the Department of Anthropology.
The research started in 2019
We started the research with the collection of blood samples and swabs from the oral mucosa in order to isolate DNA for further genetic and epigenetic tests – says dr hab. Aneta Sitek. The study participants also completed a very detailed questionnaire in which they answered questions about their lifestyle. In addition, photographs and precise three-dimensional scans of their faces were taken – this was done because another important goal of our project was to check if the rate of biological ageing of the body correlates with the degree of facial ageing – explains the researcher. If so, based on the biological trace, we will be able to determine whether the person looked for by the police may have grey hair or be bald.
During the project, samples from over 800 people, including twenty pairs of monozygotic twins, were tested. – This is a very important part of the project – emphasises dr hab. Aneta Sitek – We hope to find markers at the level of the epigenome that will allow to differentiate such people.
The implementation of the project will take one more year.
Source: Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz
Photo: dr hab. Aneta Sitek, Associate Professor at the University of Lodz
Text: Justyna Kowalewska (3PR)