Predicting Physical Features and Diseases by DNA Analysis: Current Advances and Future Challenges

SILVA DE CERQUEIRA, CAIO; RAMALLO, VIRGINIA; HUNEMEIER, TÁBITA; DE AZEVEDO, SOLEDAD; QUINTO-SÁNCHEZ MIRSHA; PASCHETTA, CAROLINA ANDREA; CINTAS, CELIA; GONZÁLEZ, MARINA FERNANDA; SCHÜLER-FACCINI, L; BORTOLINI, MARIA CÁTIRA; GONZÁLEZ-JOSÉ, ROLANDO

Journal of Forensic Research

OMICS Publishing Group

Año: 2016 vol. 7

2157-7145

The ´omics´ era and its concomitant technological advances have brought great insight into genetics. One of themost promising fields within human genetics is the prediction of physical traits from analysis of genetic material.Besides the predictive potential of DNA, the traceability of pathogenic agents in the human body through molecularanalysis is also a field to be further exploited. In this review, we aim to discuss specific aspects of phenotypicprediction by analysing DNA, with special emphasis on normal variation, and the application of a technology knownas ?Forensic DNA Phenotyping? (FDP). We also suggest the term ?Phenotype Informative Markers? (PIMs) todesignate any molecular markers responsible for normal or pathological human phenotypic variation. In addition, weraise some recommendations related to forensic genetics, the molecular diagnosis of human diseases, and thetraceability of pathogens in the human body, giving special emphasis to the need for validation of these tests withstrict protocols. Some relevant concerns about privacy, ethics, and legality of such predictions have also beendiscussed. Finally, we look at perspectives on the use of epigenetic tools, and quote some examples of what hasbeen done in this specific field.