Forensic Science Advances: Bacterial Evidence and DNA ID Initiative

Researchers in Italy are investigating the use of bacteria left at crime scenes as forensic evidence. Unique microbial signatures from skin, oral cavities and environments could help identify individuals or estimate time of death, but experts warn the method is still in early stages and not yet reliable for court use.

In Belize, the National Forensic Science Service has launched a program to identify twenty sets of unidentified human remains recovered between 1998 and 2020. An online form invites relatives of missing persons to submit information; matching DNA samples will be collected and compared with the skeletal remains at no cost to families, aiming to return remains to next of kin.