Forensic tissue identification i.e. determining the cellular origin of a crime scene sample is well established in forensic case work, but current methods are mainly presumptive, meaning that positive results can also be caused by substances other than the forensic body fluid of interest. We are therefore aiming to develop more useful molecular tools, e.g. by systematically exploring genome-wide patterns of gene expression in the search for candidate markers, which we subsequently confirm via techniques. They must not only show a strong over-expression in a particular forensic body fluid relative to others expected at the crime scene, but must also be stable regarding environmental conditions such as storage time, as we verify experimentally. Furthermore, we are investigating DNA for determining cellular origin in forensic applications. 

Selected recent publications:

• Zubakov D, Hanekamp E, van IJken W and Kayser M (2008) Stable RNA markers for blood and saliva identification revealed from whole genome expression analysis of time-wise degraded stains. International Journal of Legal Medicine, 122(2):135-142.
• Zubakov D, Kokshoorn M, Kloosterman A, and Kayser M (2009) New markers for old stains: stable mRNA markers for blood and saliva identification detected from stains up to 16 years of age. International Journal of Legal Medicine, 123:71–74.
• Gauvin J, Zubakov D, van Rhee-Binkhorst J, Kloosterman A, Steegers E and Kayser M (2010) Forensic pregnancy diagnostics with placental mRNA markers. International Journal of Legal Medicine, 124:13-17.
• Zubakov D, Boersma AWM, Choi Y, van Kuijk PF, Wiemer EAC, and Kayser M (2010) MicroRNA markers for forensic body fluid identification obtained from microarray screening and quantitative RT-PCR confirmation. International Journal of Legal Medicine, 124 (3):217-226.
• Visser M, Zubakov D, Ballantyne KN, Kayser M (2011) mRNA-based skin identification for forensic applications. International Journal of Legal Medicine, Epub Jan 11 2011, DOI 10.1007/s00414-010-0545-2