Forensic Genetics

This article describes forensic genetics investigations performed in Slovenia and abroad. At the Molecular Genetic Laboratory of the Institute of Forensic Medicine, close and distinct kinship analyses are performed, biological stains are analyzed in casework, and human ske­letal remains are identified from forensic investigations, World War II mass graves and archeo­logical sites. Identification of tissue samples is performed in clinical examinations whenever a suspicion of exchange appears. Furthermore, hematopoietic cell chimerism is monitored after bone marrow transplantations, and zygosity in twins is determined before transplan­tations. The paper describes variable genetic markers used in forensic genetics. Whenever nuclear autosomal and Y chromosome Short Tandem Repeat loci are used, length polymorp­hisms are traced. In the variable control region of the mitochondrial DNA, sequence polymorp­hisms are analyzed. In the paper, the most famous genetics investigations for the reconstruction of historical cases are presented, some mass disaster victimidentifications are listed, and some identifications of notabilities of our past are described.