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Age Estimation Based on DNA Methylation Using Blood Samples From Deceased Individuals |
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| Authors: | Helena Correia Dias MSc Cristina Cordeiro MSc MD Francisco Corte Real MD PhD Eugénia Cunha PhD Licínio Manco PhD |
| Institution: | 1. Department of Life Sciences, Research Centre for Anthropology and Health (CIAS), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
Department of Life Sciences, Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology, Centre for Functional Ecology (CEF), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, Coimbra, Portugal;2. National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, Coimbra, Portugal Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal;3. Department of Life Sciences, Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology, Centre for Functional Ecology (CEF), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, Coimbra, Portugal;4. Department of Life Sciences, Research Centre for Anthropology and Health (CIAS), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal |
| Abstract: | Age estimation using DNA methylation levels has been widely investigated in recent years because of its potential application in forensic genetics. The main aim of this study was to develop an age predictor model (APM) for blood samples of deceased individuals based in five age-correlated genes. Fifty-one samples were analyzed through the bisulfite polymerase chain reaction (PCR) sequencing method for DNA methylation evaluation in genes ELOVL2, FHL2, EDARADD, PDE4C, and C1orf132. Linear regression was used to analyze relationships between methylation levels and age. The model using the highest age-correlated CpG from each locus revealed a correlation coefficient of 0.888, explaining 76.3% of age variation, with a mean absolute deviation from the chronological age (MAD) of 6.08 years. The model was validated in an independent test set of 19 samples producing a MAD of 8.84 years. The developed APM seems to be informative and could have potential application in forensic analysis. |
| Keywords: | forensic science forensic epigenetics DNA methylation age deceased individuals bisulfite PCR sequencing |