Multi-Omics Approaches in Forensic Biology: Integrating Genomics, Epigenomics, Proteomics and Microbiomics for Human Identification and Crime Scene Reconstruction

Abstract

Forensic biology has traditionally been based on the use of DNA profiling as the primary method for human identification and biological evidence analysis. While conventional Short Tandem Repeat (STR) profiling is highly reliable for individual identification, it alone cannot address several important forensic questions, including the biological origin of a sample, the age of the contributor, tissue or body-fluid identification, environmental association and aspects of crime scene reconstruction. Recently developed omics-based technologies in molecular biology that allow the acquisition of multiple layers of information are capable of analyzing forensic biological evidence.

Multi-omics approaches integrate complementary molecular information from genomics, epigenomics, proteomics, and microbiomics, providing a more complete biological profile of an individual or evidence sample. Genomics is used for human identification with methods such as STRs, single nucleotide polymorphisms, mitochondrial DNA and massively parallel sequencing. Epigenomics, in particular DNA methylation analysis, has potential applications in forensic age estimation, tissue identification and characterization of biological variation. Proteomics can be used to detect protein biomarkers that can help to identify body fluids and tissues. Microbiomics can be used to study the microbial communities associated with individuals, biological materials and environments and has potential applications in individual association, crime scene reconstruction and postmortem interval estimation.

Combining these molecular layers may add value to the analysis of biological evidence, moving beyond traditional DNA profiling. However, a number of challenges still exist such as sample degradation, contamination, population and environmental variability, limited reference databases, complex bioinformatic analysis, methodological standardization, validation and ethical concerns due to the increasing amount of biological information that can be obtained from forensic samples. This review discusses the principles, applications, advantages and limitations of genomics, epigenomics, proteomics and microbiomics in forensic biology and focuses on their integration for human identification and crime-scene reconstruction. The review also highlights current research gaps and future prospects including massively parallel sequencing, single-cell analysis, artificial intelligence and integrated computational approaches. Thus, multi-omics is emerging as a promising complementary framework that may extend forensic biology from conventional genetic identification to comprehensive molecular characterization of biological evidence.

Keywords: Forensic Biology; Multi-Omics; Forensic Genomics; Epigenomics; DNA Methylation; Forensic Proteomics; Microbiomics; DNA Profiling; Body Fluid Identification; Human Identification; Crime Scene Reconstruction; Postmortem Interval Estimation; Massively Parallel Sequencing; Bioinformatics; Molecular Forensics

Citation

Aarshiya. Multi-Omics Approaches in Forensic Biology: Integrating Genomics, Epigenomics, Proteomics and Microbiomics for Human Identification and Crime Scene Reconstruction. WebLog J Forensic Sci Criminol. wjfsc.2026.i3004. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23313452