NFI participating in research: does DNA give away someone’s age?
In the coming two years, the Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI) will take part in a research project for the determination of the age of unidentified bodies or perpetrators on the basis of DNA. In this project, the NFI will be collaborating with the University of Amsterdam (UvA).
The Dutch Ministry of Security and Justice has awarded a grant for this project, as part of the ‘Security by Innovation’ programme set up by the Dutch National Coordinator for Security and Anti-Terrorism (Nationaal Coördinator Terrorismebestrijding en Veiligheid, or NCTV).
DNA
It is well known that DNA changes with ageing. Changes in the DNA’s chemical composition are called epigenetic changes. Based on the epigenetic properties, researchers can estimate a person’s age from DNA.
Age determination
The research project is supervised by Dr. Pernette J. Verschure (UvA) and Prof. Ate D. Kloosterman (NFI DNA scientist). Together with the researchers, they will develop a forensics-specific age test.
Based on DNA from various tissue types, such as DNA from the buccal mucosa or blood, the test will allow forensic scientists to estimate the age of unidentified bodies or the age of unknown persons from whom biological evidence has been found. The researchers will be able to estimate the age with a precision of five years.
Identification
Age-testing plays an important role in identifying deceased individuals, and in determining the age of potential victims of human trafficking and of perpetrators whose DNA has been found at a crime scene (rape cases and violent offences).