DNA methylation-based forensic age prediction using artificial neural networks and next generation sequencing.

ABSTRACT: The ability to estimate the age of the donor from recovered biological material at a crime scene can be of substantial value in forensic investigations. Aging can be complex and is associated with various molecular modifications in cells that accumulate over a person's lifetime including epigenetic patterns. The aim of this study was to use age-specific DNA methylation patterns to generate an accurate model for the prediction of chronological age using data from whole blood. In total, 45 age-associated CpG sites were selected based on their reported age coefficients in a previous extensive study and investigated using publicly available methylation data obtained from 1156 whole blood samples (aged 2-90 years) analysed with Illumina's genome-wide methylation platforms (27K/450K). Applying s

SUBMITTER: Vidaki A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5392537 | biostudies-literature | 2017 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature