DNA degradation: Current knowledge and developments

Our knowledge about the biochemical and physical processes that lead to DNA degradation, has considerably been increased over the past decennia. Especially the field of palaeogenetics has not only contributed to our understanding of DNA degradation but also to the development of sensitive methodologies to analyse genetic variation in degraded DNA. The latter is of extreme importance in forensic genetics not only in the context of identification of the donors of biological stains in criminal cases but especially in the identification of human remains in criminal cases and mass fatality incidents. Therefore, in this review we will not only highlight the processes involved in the degradation of DNA but also highlight the methodological advances that have taken place or might be promising in the future for the analysis of degraded DNA. An introduction to DNA profiling and identification can be found in Goodwin and Hadi (2007) Parsons and Weedn (1997).status: publishe