Development of an RNA-based forensic molecular biological detection method for the presence of biological (trace) material from adolescents

• Applicant: Dr. Jan Euteneuer
• Subject Area: Human Genetics ; Developmental Biology ; Public Health, Healthcare Research, Social and Occupational Medicine
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 556596397

According to police crime statistics, a total of 16,375 cases of sexual child abuse were registered in Germany in 2023. According to the same statistics, the clearance rate for these cases was 83.9%. This means that 2,633 cases could not be solved. Not only because of these large numbers of cases, but also because of the seriousness and relevance of the offenses, effective criminal prosecution using all available means is eminently relevant to society. To clarify and reconstruct the course of events in case work, DNA evidence alone may not be sufficient to identify a person involved in the offence, especially if involved persons from the family environment are eligible for trace deposition, for example in shared living situations. The genetic similarity of the biological parents and their children is a major problem when analyzing evidence and interpreting DNA-profiles in cases of sexual abuse of children and adolescents (especially if they are too young for interrogation or are intimidated) inside the family environment. Depending on the distribution of DNA markers and if no clear main component is recognizable in the mixed profile, it is difficult to deduce whether the mixed trace originates from the parents, or one parent and the child, or all family members. In order to contribute more effectively in the future to the investigative work at these complex traces in sexual offenses, we aim to establish the groundwork for age- and development-dependent RNA biomarkers. Our laboratory is already accredited for mRNA-based organ and body fluid analysis and has many years of experience with RNA analysis in real crime cases. For the applied study, a sufficiently large collective of children and adolescent samples are to be compared with an adult sample collection by RNA sequencing to find differentially expressed transcripts (mRNA and other small RNAs), which are still upregulated in adolescents but no longer in adults. After sufficient validation, these RNA markers will then be incorporated into forensic RNA case analysis assays. An additional aim is the creation of a molecular biological tool to differentiate between minors and adults (in the area of 16-21 years).

• DFG Programme: Research Grants